Van West Charles, who said his views were his personal position, told Stabroek News he thought Murray was the only person with the experience to lead the party.
His statement came in the wake of the recently announced decision by PNCR leader Robert Corbin to withdraw himself from the presidential candidacy.
Van West Charles said he was sure that the PNCR would go forward to contest the polls and he said whether it did so on its own or in an alliance with other parties or groups, Murray should be at the helm as both party leader and presidential candidate. Van West Charles, who was the main backer of Murray’s unsuccessful bid for the leadership of the party last year, has said that the party now has to move quickly in its preparations for the 2011 general elections. “We have to do work on the ground and his experience is valuable as we move forward,” he said after Corbin’s announcement.
According to him, historically the leader of the party has been automatically its presidential candidate and as a result the question of the party’s leadership had to be addressed. He acknowledged that there had been mention that the party would explore the possibility of identifying a candidate separately from the leader, but noted that there had been no decision on that point.
