The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has been presented with a report on the feasibility of holding its overdue 21st Biennial Delegates’ Congress in “some form” but is still to make a decision.
PNCR leader David Granger, in a party interview broadcast by APNU on Friday, said that “congress will be held when the CEC decides it can be held safely.”
The former president said during the interview that a committee that was convened to investigate the matter submitted a report to the CEC at its meeting last Wednesday. He did not reveal any details about its contents and instead said that the recommendations will be implemented following the next CEC meeting, which should be within a fortnight.
The delayed congress has been a source of much concern, with some members protesting Congress Place two weeks ago, but Granger is adamant that the only delay is as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Work done
Granger again denied being afraid of challenges to his leadership, declaring the he has significantly improved the performance of the party.
“Members of PNCR know me. They know I have moved the performance of the PNCR from what it was before in the early 2000s. I am the first leader of the PNCR to be elected President since 1985. They know the truth about my performance,” he said, before adding that he has been reaching out to the party’s grassroots to shore up its support while those in Parliament work to be a credible opposition.
“I am convinced that supporters won’t drift away from the party once they see the work done both in and out of office…What was announced on August 2 is not a defeat. It has encouraged me to do a closer review and introspection, which is why I’ve been going out in to the regions. I’ve been doing outreaches to rebuild the party structure and work towards regaining office,” Granger explained.
He maintained that while he is aware of criticisms about his leadership, he is not worried about possible challengers.
“I’m aware of the critics. I have no issue with holding a Congress. Congress is not a problem neither are challengers. I had to face a special Congress to become Presidential Candidate and I faced Congress after that and won. I went up against [Carl] Greenidge and won and went up against [Aubrey] Norton and won,” he reminded.
The last Congress provided a significant upset when long time party Chair Basil Williams was roundly defeated by current Chair Volda Lawrence, who is seen as a potential contender for the post of leader.
In securing the chairmanship, Lawrence secured 346 votes against Joseph Harmon’s 287 and Williams received 183 votes. Granger was returned unopposed as leader.
Significantly, despite her popularity with the party’s base Lawrence has been cast aside in favour of current Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon.
Granger as representative of the party list did not name her to a seat in Parliament, claiming that the party wished to introduce “youth” into its cohort of representatives.
