Dear Editor,
The People’s National Congress Reform Biennial Congress is July 25 to July 27. At this Congress party members will get the opportunity to vote for their leaders. The members who have paid up their dues and are identified as delegates will be able to vote. Bona fide members are identified by their membership cards. Congress is approximately three weeks away and there are too many members who have not yet received their membership cards. They have registered and renewed their membership and submitted the forms, along with the membership fee. Membership cards are processed by Congress Place and no one knows what is taking so long for members to receive their cards.
The party has added a financial burden to members by asking them to submit a photograph. Some members cannot afford it and some live in areas where they do not have ready access to photographers. Those in far flung areas have to find money to take their picture, pay transportation to travel to the mainland to find a photographer and then travel back home. This can be very costly. Before party membership cards had the picture of the Founder Leader. This was practical because it saved members having to pay to get a picture taken, find photographers and meet travel expenses. Now members feel that they have to pay twice and sometimes thrice to belong to the party. It is like belonging to an elite club. You pay to be a member, then pay to travel to find a photo studio, then pay to have the photographer take your picture.
Getting a National Identification Card is easier and cheaper than getting a party card. You only have to visit the office in your area, fill out the form and the office will take your picture for free. Some members feel this whole picture taking business is designed to deny some membership. Before the party found other forms of identification to identify bona fide voters. The last Congress delegates were identified by a hand band which was placed on the wrist after the verification process of identifying legitimate members. This worked well and it is puzzling why this system cannot be used again. It was also cost effective to the members and party.
Members would like the party to move expeditiously to issue their membership cards and review the trouble and costly burden it is putting on members to find photographers and pay for pictures. The PNC is still the party of the small man. The small man is finding it hard enough to pay his bills and feed his family and would appreciate the leadership taking note of this.
Yours faithfully,
J Thomas
