Disaffected PNCR members from Region 10 are committed to solving their two-year-old problems with party headquarters which boiled over yesterday into a walkout from the 18th biennial congress and acrimony.
In a statement today, the Chairman of Region 10 and a member of the PNCR Central Executive, Sharma Solomon said that never before had the party had such unresolvable grievances and such chaotic outcomes where the integrity of the entire process could be questioned or where almost an entire Regional delegates list was disenfranchised.
He also called for the gunman who discharged a round during the congress, creating panic to be held accountable.
“Region 10 calls on Mr. (David) Granger and all party members to condemn this wanton disregard for the lives and safety of party comrades and immediate sanctions on this gun-toting menace, who must not be sheltered or protected by friends and contacts in high places. We call on the Guyana Police Force to become immediately involved in investigating the discharge and display of this firearm in public with the intent to hurt, maim, disfigure or threaten unarmed persons.”
The Linden/Region Ten statement follows:
LINDEN PRESS STATEMENT
28th July, 2014
The PNCR like any other political party or mass based organization have had its share of glitches in previous elections, but never of such magnitude, never with such unresolvable grievances and such chaotic outcomes where the integrity of the entire process can be questioned or where almost an entire Regional delegates list was disenfranchised. Based on the non-adherence of the Party Rules by the administration I have been denied the opportunity to be accredited as a delegate. This is not the way of the PNCR and it should not be representative of future elections. The developments that occurred at Congress are now part of the past which we must now put into perspective, review and work diligently to prevent in the future.
Region 10 is committed to have all outstanding issues over the last two years addressed by putting in place acceptable modalities. These include the electoral processes and other pressing internal matters that gave rise to the chaos, long before Congress was convened. These are conditions that Region 10 perceived months ago and were desperately seeking to have addressed internally, with the avoidance of conflict through the party decision making forums and the accreditation committee which unfortunately was never allowed to function effectively to produce credible end results. Further, and rather unfortunately, the process of resolving grievances , concerns and decision making in the party have undergone changes that now deny or frustrate participation of all members in matters that concern their membership and activities in the Party. This deterioration in governance is made worse with the recent denial of members’ right to vote in a fair,
transparent and fearless process to elect a leader of their choice. This is particularly true for Region 10, considered a bulwark of PNCR support base.
Congress is over, and we are now faced with the task of moving forward, of mending our rifts, of correcting our weaknesses and building on our strengths to face the national challenges that go over and beyond the challenges we face internally. Region 10 remains committed to leading this change and this effort to unify our party to achieve the goals that are necessary for our development and for the development of all other regions and the people of Guyana. We are prepared to work to ensure that the democratic structure which our party can proudly boast of is strengthen. As it is, we consider the fact of our members’ willingness to speak out on issues, though not fully attained, a positive for our Party.
In this regard the PNCR remains the vanguard party where members are prepared to challenge their leaders and hold them accountable. This is a work in progress that must continue and our leaders must become accustomed to such challenges to their authority and decisions made, particularly when they are different to our well established rules and the party constitution. This challenge from Region 10 will continue where and when necessary to strengthen our party’s democracy not to destroy our party but to build its ability to deal with dissent, challenges and changes. Those who have taken this progressive step before and those like Ms Clarissa Riehl, Carl Greenidge and the countless others must not be deterred by the critics and antics of those who seek to interpret our reality to suit their purpose and intent.
The PNCR though shaken by this recent chaos must grow from these experiences. Region 10 shall continue to set the tone for change, not only in the party but in other parties where members fear to challenge, have no electoral processes and have leaders foisted on them.
We of Region 10 are proud of the structure put in place by Founder Leader LFS Burnham to ensure maximum participation and involvement of our members, we are proud of the systems that are enshrined in our Constitution for handling of grievances. Some have violated these and may be encouraged to continue such violations for whatever reason and purpose, but we must hold them accountable, for this is what we are allowed to do when working in accordance with the constitution and party rules. Region 10 recommits to doing exactly that. Region 10 remains committed to leadership by example and the PNCR, we believe has the structure and systems which no other political party in the history of Guyana has. The PNCR has the means to show how good governance is intended to be. The people of Region 10 demand this of the PPP/C government. We demand it of our party! We demand it for all Guyana. It is what we deserve. It is the progressive, democratic way forward. It
must represent the New Guyana where leaders are held accountable at all levels.
The gunman who recklessly discharged his firearm in Congress Place must be held accountable for recklessly endangering the lives of all who were around and for the reckless use of his firearm, even if he is licensed firearm holder. Region 10 calls on Mr. Granger and all party members to condemn this wanton disregard for the lives and safety of party comrades and immediate sanctions on this gun-toting menace, who must not be sheltered or protected by friends and contacts in high places. We call on the Guyana Police Force to become immediately involved in investigating the discharge and display of this firearm in public with the intent to hurt, maim, disfigure or threaten unarmed persons.