On the even of its biennial congress, the main opposition PNCR is investigating a claim of the padding and falsification of the party’s membership register with the inclusion of the names of dead persons.
Last Thursday Chairman of the Accreditation Committee for the Congress Lance Carberry told reporters that there was an ongoing investigation based on a submission by a prominent member. Stabroek News has learnt that nominee for party leader Dr Richard Van West Charles has written to Carberry about the findings of a random survey that detected a number of dead persons on the membership register. Similar concerns had been raised by Vincent Alexander and his supporters in the run-up to the last biennial congress. After failing to get a verification of the register, Alexander withdrew his candidacy. The 16th Biennial Congress will be held from August 21 to 22.
When contacted for comment, Dr Van West Charles was unwilling to elaborate on his complaint. He said he has written to Carberry about the findings following the work done in the field with respect to the list but he added that it was confidential and he could not make any further comment.
However, in letters seen by this newspaper, sent to Carberry and copied to party leader Robert Corbin, the General Secretary Oscar Clarke and members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC), Van West Charles contends that while he was prevented from collecting information to verify that membership applications were legitimately done, he has been able to establish that there was “widespread falsification” of membership records. As a result he expressed concern that there was evidence of “systematic padding” of the membership register, warning that it had significant implications for the integrity of the electoral process and should be investigated. Stabroek News has seen a random membership verification report that shows the names of 20 deceased persons in Regions 2, 3 and 5.
Although the party is investigating this claim, he expressed alarm at an investigation of his report without the involvement of any of his representatives. “I ask that you initiate a full and impartial investigation into padding and falsification of the membership application forms and proof of payment,” Van West Charles wrote, “This investigation must include the examination of all membership application forms and proof of payment.”
Carberry would not confirm the specific complaint he was investigating when Stabroek News contacted him yesterday. However, he explained that based on the submissions received, the party’s membership records would be checked to verify the claims. He added that if there are errors, corrections would be made and the party who lodged the objection would be informed of the course of action. “As soon as I am finished with the investigation I will respond to say what the position is with each claim raised,” Carberry added.
Van West Charles has complained to Corbin that he has had limited access to the list of members. He has also complained that he has been denied requests for the names of chairpersons and secretaries of groups countrywide and about the suspension of the viewing of the register by the CEC. Additionally, he has charged that persons who conducted the survey for his campaign were the victims of verbal and physical hostility in three areas where discrepancies were found.
Carberry said last week that the CEC had approved procedures to be followed for “Verification of Membership List and Accreditation of Delegates and Observers.” A corresponding memo was sent to the Secretary and/or Chairman of each Party Group and went into effect from 25 July 2009, informing members of the Claims and Objections period which began from 19 July and came to an end on 9 August 2009. He said this was brought to the attention of all Party Groups countrywide and explained that each group was sent a membership list and asked to verify whether it was accurate, with any queries being investigated.
Meanwhile, Van West Charles has repeatedly expressed concern about the need for the
electoral process to be guided by best practices to ensure fairness and transparency. He has said that in order for the party to speak credibly and effectively on national governance, its internal governance must be of the highest level.
As it seeks to assure that there is transparency at the polls, the party has adopted new measures in its registration and elections processes for the congress. The party has agreed to invite a panel of independent and eminent persons, dubbed “friends of the Party,” to monitor the various processes used, for the registration and identification of delegates and observers, as well as for the election of the Central Executive Committee (CEC). Additionally, the CEC has agreed that a suitable person, who is considered independent, will undertake the task of the Returning Officer for the elections.
The elections are to be conducted in five stages, being for Party Leader, Chair-person, two Vice-Chairpersons, Treasurer and 15 other members of the CEC, in that order. The results for each stage would be declared before the election to the next stage is conducted. Ballot boxes are to be used for the casting of the votes and the counting of the votes would be undertaken in full public view. Additionally, each candidate, if desirous, would be entitled to appoint his or her own scrutineer(s) for the balloting and counting of the votes. Emphasising that the process should ensure that the casting of the ballot by each delegate is confidential, the party says that for each of the five stages of the elections process a single ballot would be issued to the delegate on his/her way to the ballot box. After casting the ballot, the delegate would return to the seat he or she occupied prior to being invited to collect and cast the ballot.
The process would continue until the balloting for all five stages is completed.
Meanwhile, a roll call of delegates would be held before they are seated for the polls. The Convenor of the Accreditation Committee would provide the Returning Officer with a complete list of all the delegates, ordered by the region he or she represents as well as a list of automatic delegates.
Since each delegate would be required to prominently wear his/her ID card, showing his, her name, group and region, in preparation for the conduct of the elections the Returning Officer would be able to conduct a roll call and identification of each delegate, before he or she is seated, in seats reserved for the region from which he or she is drawn.
When they are properly identified, delegates or observers would be issued with an “easily distinguishable prepared numbered Delegate or Observer ID Card.” The ID card would show the name, group and region represented by the delegate or observer and would be signed by the Convenor of the Accreditation Committee.
According to the letters sent by him, Van West Charles has said that previous experience has shown that there is need for the production of picture identification at the time of voting.
