The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) moved closer to identifying a date for its overdue Biennial Congress after the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) approved recommendations that it be held no later than December 13, 2021.
A statement read by Party Chairperson Volda Lawrence during a press conference yesterday suggested that early December is more likely since the preferred end of November date is likely to fall right around the time of the United States Thanksgiving weekend.
“The consideration for this period is linked to the Thanksgiving weekend in the USA which is a special occasion for our members living in the United States,” the statement noted before explaining that the 22nd Biennial Delegates’ Congress will be for delegates only, decentralised, and hybrid.
It will be conducted over one day at Party Congress Houses in the respective regions, Lawrence explained.
Asked what efforts will be made to ensure that voting at these various locations will be free, fair and transparent, Lawrence said that the party’s leadership structures will kick in.
“It will be their responsibility to ensure that the process is carried out in a smooth and transparent manner,” she explained, before adding that a Logistics Committee, once put in place, will seek to prepare all voting stations in a manner that will bring as little or no hiccups as possible.
Lawrence added that since the process of Congress and voting at congress begins long before the actual event, efforts are already being made by the General Secretary and others to ensure members will have access to all necessary information.
The soon to be established Congress Committee will make decisions on the timelines and other administrative matters related to the event. This committee is expected to be established in the new week.
Asked repeatedly if she was willing to contest for the position of leader during this year’s congress, Lawrence maintained that she would make such a decision based on the nominations received. “We will have to wait to see the nominations,” she said.
So far executive members Aubrey Norton and Richard Van West-Charles have both expressed their willingness to contest for the position of leader of the PNCR at Congress.
Current Leader David Granger, whose leadership has been repeatedly questioned since the 2020 General and Regional Elections, is also expected to contest for re-election.
He is currently on an indefinite leave of absence from the party, leaving Lawrence as acting leader.
