The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) yesterday maintained that the suspension of Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon was done in accordance with the Party Constitution but this was rejected by Kissoon and party members from Linden have written their Leader David Granger expressing solidarity with her.
The PNCR’s move to discipline Kissoon over a June 20th incident has stirred up simmering divisions in the region which came to the surface in 2012 at the height of the protest over electricity tariffs. These divisions were further heightened with the decision in April this year by PNCR Headquarters to appoint Sandra Adams as the coordinator for the region. Her appointment has apparently been opposed by key members of the region.
In a statement issued yesterday the PNCR said that Kissoon’s suspension is to be upheld until a further examination by the Party Disciplinary Committee, a decision approved by the Party’s Central Executive Committee.
It said: “This case had its origin in the decision of the Central Executive Committee to appoint a former
member of the National Assembly and former Chairperson of the Party’s Upper Demerara-Berbice Region as Coordinator of the very Upper Demerara-Berbice Region where she resides, with effect from 1st April 2014. The General Secretary assigned specific administrative and organizational duties to the Coordinator.
“The appointment of the Coordinator was discussed and determined at several meetings and was approved and authorized by a meeting of the Central Executive Committee. Representatives of the Region attended all of these meetings. The Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council was also invited to attend these meetings although he is not an elected Party officer of the Region. It was evident from the outset that certain persons resented the appointment and resisted attempts to allow the Coordinator to be given access to the Party’s office.”
These differences culminated in the June 20th incident at Congress Place where party general secretary Oscar Clarke demanded the keys to the party’s regional facilities from Kissoon and an altercation occurred. This incident led to the suspension of Kissoon.
Meanwhile, members of the PNCR are standing in solidarity with Kissoon following what they are calling her unjust suspension from the party on June 24.
In a letter signed by 119 party members in Region 10 dated June 30, representatives from the PNCR stated that Granger had no authority to suspend Kissoon as the decision was made one day prior to a statutory meeting of the Central Executive Committee which met on June 25 to address the matter. The letter stated that “the rules of the party are clear that discipline falls within the purview of stipulated Disciplinary Authorities of which the Leader is not one.”
Region 10 party members are arguing that the decision to suspend Kissoon was personal and part of the continued, “consistent and sustained assault on the region.”
The letter argued that Kissoon and other party members raised concerns when the party appointed Adams as Coordinator for the region without any input or consultation by the elected representatives in the region. According to the statement signed by the members “when our elected representatives resisted these transgressions and violations they are subjected to all forms of attacks threats and altercations…” and denied their rights as party members.
The PNCR statement said that “it was evident from the outset that certain persons resented the appointment and resisted attempts to allow the Coordinator to be given access to the party’s office”. It further stated that Kissoon was not an elected party officer of the region and that it is the “authority of the Central Executive Committee to make non-elected appointments”. It further said that Clarke is to “enjoy free and unimpeded access to the party’s property”.
On June 20 at the party headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia, Clarke had demanded that Kissoon return the keys to the Linden offices at which point Kissoon denied having the keys. She has since repeated that she was never in possession of the keys. Afterwards Clarke allegedly became agitated and began aggressively gesturing towards Kissoon. Clarke has declined to speak to Stabroek News on the incident.
“Regional party members stand united in support for and respect for the Party Constitution which details the procedure for discipline. We also stand united in the [belief] that Ms Kissoon’s rights are being denied and that she is being unduly targeted as a leader in this region,” the statement read.
It continued “we are also cognizant that internal elections are due and that these attacks may be orchestrated to undermine Regional activities geared towards selecting the party executive.”
For her part Kissoon stated that she has yet to receive correspondence from the Central Executive Committee on her suspension noting that her communication was with Granger himself. “I am surprised that my party, under the leadership of Mr. Granger, has sought to release a statement that has no bearing to what led to my suspension. The PNCR statement conflicts with the 24th June letter to me by Mr. Granger.,” Kissoon stated.
Correspondence between party members obtained by Stabroek News revealed that following the incident at Congress Place, longstanding party member John Yates, who was not present during the incident, wrote a letter on June 21st to Granger and others recommending that action be taken against Kissoon.
He stated that “several disrespectful actions against the leadership of the Party by a selected few” have been ongoing since the decision was made to appoint the Regional Coordinator. Yates stated that “I am of the view that these incidents are being done to create division within the Party something which we can least afford with possible local government or National Elections in the near future.”
Kissoon then responded to Granger on June 25th stating that “I now feel personally targeted by forces in the party that I work hard for and remain loyal to. As a woman I also believe this recent incident sets out to perpetuate a gender domination that does not do the internal image of the party any justice. Further, the party’s atmosphere within recent times is blanketed by a thick fog of intimidation and fear.”
Kissoon has remained firm that she was never given the opportunity to speak on the issue prior to her suspension and Yates’ letter to members of the Central Executive was done prior to the two parties’ involved in the issue raising an official complaint. “I am disappointed that any source of “credible complaints” is sufficient to suspend me without a hearing. Even more so, used to violate our party constitution. This is not the example I expect, nor the treatment any member deserves,” Kissoon had said in the letter to Granger.
Kissoon, who has a support base in Linden and had a heightened public profile during the unrest in the mining town two years ago, said that under the party’s constitution, Article 24 (16) Disciplinary Procedures states that “the member against whom the complaint has been made must be given in writing a short statement setting out clearly, with reasonable particulars, the nature of the allegations against him.”
The PNCR constitution also states that “the member must be given a reasonable opportunity to defend himself and to call witnesses and produce documents relevant to his defence” as well as “the member shall have the right to be assisted at the inquiry by a party member of his/her choice.”
Kissoon made it clear that none of the procedures were followed “so the issue of me being suspended, just like that, if taken seriously would be in violation of the constitution.”
