PNCR postpones Congress due to transparency concerns in leadership election

Citing the need for transparency and democracy, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) on Thursday decided to postpone for another week its 21st Biennial Congress, which was set for this Saturday, December 11.
This decision was made by the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) at a meeting on Thursday. In a brief statement, the PNCR explained that this move was in the interest of “ensuring transparency, democracy and fairness to all its members, delegates and officials”.
According to the party, the Congress will now be held on Saturday, December 18, 2021.
It was reported that the postponement is based on a recommendation made by the Chief Election Officer for the Congress, Vincent Alexander, who cited the Accreditation Congress Committee’s lack of preparedness for the event, initially scheduled for this weekend.
This new development regarding the hosting of Congress comes just one week after party members Annette Ferguson, Ganesh Mahipaul and Carol Smith-Joseph were made to step down from the Congress Committee last week over concerns of conflict of interest. Ferguson and Mahipaul – both APNU/AFC Opposition Members of Parliament – along with Smith-Joseph, have all publicly endorsed candidates who are contesting to become the next PNCR Leader. While Smith-Joseph has thrown her support behind front runner Aubrey Norton, the two parliamentarians have endorsed Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon.
Moreover, Mahipaul is in the race for the PNCR Chairmanship. Harmon had indicated that if he wins leadership, he would make Mahipaul the next General Secretary of the PNCR.
The PNCR had said that the trio “…accepted the position of the CEC and withdrew from the Accreditation Congress Committee.”
At the time, however, it was noted that work of the Accreditation Congress Committee was significantly advanced, and that the withdrawal of the trio would not delay completion of its work in time for the hosting of the Biennial Delegates Congress on December 11.
There have been mounting concerns over the electoral process of the upcoming congress. Party member Dr Richard Van West-Charles, who is also vying for the leadership post, had previously called for current General Secretary Amna Ally to recuse herself from the post to allow for transparency and accountability in the election process. He had also alleged there were efforts by some to sway the PNCR membership to vote in a particular manner.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of last month’s Nominations Day proceedings, Candidate Norton had contended that once the rules are followed, there is nothing to be worried about regarding the internal electoral process.
“Elections are won when ballots are in the box and the winner is declared… In any election, one has to put mechanisms in place to ensure irregularities don’t occur…the rules have been well established, and therefore if the rules are followed, there should be no irregularities whatsoever,” Norton had told reporters at Congress Place.
There are four candidates in total vying for the PNCR leadership – Joseph Harmon, Aubrey Norton, Dr Richard Van West-Charles and Basil Williams. In addition to electing a new Leader to replace the incumbent Leader, former President David Granger, party members would be voting for a new Chairperson, since incumbent Chair Volda Lawrence would not be contending to retain her post.
Lawrence has also declined nomination for the Leader position. She, along with Carl Greenidge, Basil Williams and Sharma Solomon, received nominations for the post. However, only Williams has accepted his nomination.
Meanwhile, candidates for the chairmanship post include Christopher Jones, Simona Broomes, Roysdale Forde, Shurwayne Holder and Amanza Walton-Desir.
The PNCR – leading party in the A Partnership for National Unity faction of the APNU/AFC Coalition Opposition – has been embroiled in an internal divisive power struggle since the party’s loss at the 2020 General and Regional Elections after just one term in executive office, which was dramatically cut short when one of its own members supported a no-confidence motion brought by the then PPP/C Opposition.
Hence, there has been mounting pressure for Congress to be held to elect new leadership.
At the party’s last biennial congress in 2018, Granger was re-elected Leader for a second time after the post was uncontested.
Stage 1 of this upcoming congress will see elections being held for the Leader, Chairman, Vice Chairpersons and Treasurer. In the second stage, there will be an election for the members of the Central Executive Committee. (G8)