Some of the PNCR presidential candidate nominees have expressed satisfaction with the arrangements in place for tomorrow’s Special Congress, where delegates will cast ballots to decide who will be the party’s presidential candidate to contest the general elections constitutionally due later this year.
The five nominees are former army chief retired Brigadier David Granger, attorney and party Vice-Chairman Basil Williams, former minister Dr. Faith Harding, attorney James Bond and economist Carl Greenidge.
Greenidge yesterday acknowledged that the PNCR’s electoral system is not something that he has examined recently though he noted that there have been problems in the past. He pointed out that the group who supported the late Winston Murray and James Bond has written the party and asked for those problems to be corrected.
He added that as a recent participant in the public meetings for the nominees, he believed that “a lot of improvements need to be effected,” particularly as it related to getting up a proper register of party members. Addressing the system in place for tomorrow’s Congress, Greenidge said there were some contentious issues remaining which he hoped would be dealt with. “All the candidates seem to agree that we need to avoid the problems of the past. If people work with the rules in place then I don’t foresee any problem,” he stated. According to Greenidge, his chances as very good and he said he was “quite comforted” by the interactions he had with party members and supporters during the public meetings. However, he said he would be a lot more comfortable after the ballots are cast.
Meanwhile, Granger said he was “very satisfied” with the administrative arrangements in place for tomorrow’s Congress and that he was confident that a good job would be done since the party had some 54 years of pulling off congresses. According to Granger, he believes the message he crafted and reiterated in the 18 public meetings held has gotten through to the members. “I have every confidence in the members’ ability to make an intelligent choice on Saturday (tomorrow). The people think I’m talking common sense,” he stated.
Lone female nominee Dr. Harding also stated that she was satisfied with the arrangements in place for the event. “I feel quite confident that all will be okay. Everything will be on time because the delegates know themselves,” she said. Dr. Harding added that she hoped those delegates who were travelling from outside of the city would be able to make it.
Several efforts to contact Bond were unsuccessful while Williams chose not to comment on the issue before a scheduled press conference today.
While no clear frontrunner has emerged from the process, which included 18 town-hall style meetings across the country, political observers believe that Granger is the man to beat with the primary plank in his platform being the restoration of public security. The veteran soldier and historian even launched a book on the subject on Thursday and he has been issuing a monthly newsletter on his programmes and activities, which are seen as initiatives that belie perceptions of him as a political novice.
