As the 18th Biennial Congress of the PNCR yesterday continued at Congress Place Georgetown many motions were brought and all were referred to the First General Council Meeting.
A party insider confirmed that Region Ten Chairman Sharma Solomon had withdrawn his candidacy for leadership of the party. “Solomon withdrew… but this was because he was prompted,” the insider told Stabroek News at the conclusion of yesterday’s meeting. Several efforts to contact Solomon proved futile.
It was only last week that Solomon had boasted that he represented the change the party needed but that his chances of victory depended on the circumstances under which the will of the people is expressed. He had opined also that his chances of being elected were very good.
“The reality is though, that my chances for being elected are not only hinged on the will of the people but the circumstances under which these are expressed. I would encourage all who support change to safeguard their democracy within the party the same as we seek to safeguard it nationally and as other parties in other nations do also. The PNCR is the only party where such democracy exists and we must constantly safeguard it,” Solomon had stated.
The source said Solomon’s withdrawal was met with mixed responses with some loudly lauding him for making a “great decision” while others expressed disappointment.
It is unclear what triggered the move but sources said it was done to give fellow Lindender Aubrey Norton the opportunity to garner more votes.
Meanwhile the party in a press release informed that the second day saw its General Secretary Oscar Clarke delivering his report.
The statement said that the report gave an in-depth overview of the happenings within the PNCR since the last Biennial Congress was held in July 2012.
According to the release Clarke said “we are still saddled as a country with a continued racial and political discrimination at the hands of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration.”
It stated too that the work of the party’s Constitution Review Committee was presented by Chairman Lance Carberry for debate and assent to the congress.
Afterward during an interactive plenary session the congress discussed the chairman’s address, the leader’s address, the general secretary’s report and the report of the Constitutional Review Committee.
The congress also passed a resoloution calling on the PPP/C administration to take immediately corrective steps to halt the pollution of the Canje River.
