The main opposition PNCR has agreed to identify its presidential candidate as early as possible by a transparent system that includes wide consultation with the party’s support base, General Secretary Oscar Clarke said yesterday.
At its weekly press briefing, Clarke, reading from a statement, announced that the party’s General Council last Saturday approved the methodology to be used to identify the candidate, who will head its slate at next year’s general elections.
Clarke stated that there was “extensive discussion on the issue of identification of a presidential candidate both in the context of an alliance or in the context of the PNCR facing the elections alone.” He added that the methodology was approved by the Council by way of a motion which was unanimously passed. “The motion resolved that the PNCR’s presidential candidate should be identified by as early as possible by a transparent system that includes wide consultation with bona-fide party members groups and supporters,” Clarke said.
Further, he noted that the process to arrive at a consensus presidential candidate should include the identification of an inclusive group appointed by the Central Executive Council (CEC) by August 31, 2010 to conduct consultation with the party members, party groups and supporters. “The person selected to be the presidential candidate must have the full confidence of the membership of the PNCR, be of sound and unquestionable integrity, possess the skill, expertise and networking capability as well as command respect and support of Guyanese generally,” he explained.
The CEC was also mandated to make recommendations on the system, criteria and procedures to be employed for the identification of the candidate to the next General Council.
Clarke said that the July 10 meeting also considered the report of the General Secretary, the address by the Party Leader and reports from the regions on the preparations for the 25th death anniversary of the party founder leader and first executive President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.
According to Clarke, there was healthy discussion in the plenary sessions, particularly on the subject of the party’s programme and strategy for the period ending with the 2011 general and regional elections. “Among the issues were the options of shared governance, alliances and coalition which the Party could pursue in the immediate period ahead. In this direction the General Council approved the options recommended by the Central Executive Committee,” he relayed.
The General Council, which meets every three months, is the highest forum of the Party in the absence of Biennial Congress.
