The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has postponed its impending 21st Biennial Delegates Congress by one week following a report by its Chief Elections Officer Vincent Alexander, who advised that extra time was needed to prepare for the party’s internal elections.
Initially, the congress, which is overdue, was slated for tomorrow, December 11.
“The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the People’s National Congress Reform at a meeting held on Thursday 09th December 2021 decided that, in the interest of ensuring transparency, democracy and fairness to all its members, delegates and officials, its 21st Biennial Delegates Congress will be held on Saturday 18th December 2021,” the party said in a brief statement yesterday.
The meeting examined a report from Alexander, who the party had asked to ascertain its state of readiness for the holding of its 21st Biennial Delegates Congress. He submitted that report on Wednesday night. “I cannot recommend nor undertake the holding of the elections on December 11, 2021, notwithstanding the herculean efforts of the organizers. May I however hasten to advise that the elections can be held on December 18, 2021, if the schedule proposed hereunder is observed,” he submitted.
In his report, seen by the Stabroek News, Alexander said that he was requested by party General Secretary Amna Ally to conduct the party’s elections for its apex officers and CEC members on November 27 and accepted the request the following day.
The party held its nomination day on November 12. Delegates nominated their choices for major leadership roles – Party Leader, Chairman, Vice-Chair and CEC members.
The party said that its elections will be conducted in two stages, with the results for each stage being declared before moving on to the next. Stage one would see the election of the Leader, Chairman, two Vice-Chairpersons and Treasurer while the second stage is for the election of members to the Central Executive Committee. With the coronavirus pandemic and its limitation on large gatherings, the PNCR would be hosting simultaneous elections across the country at approved locations.
This is a deviation from the traditional conduct of elections for the party’s leadership. Traditionally, the elections and congress would be held at the party’s headquarters – Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
Last week, three members — Ganesh Mahipaul, Annette Ferguson and Carol Joseph-Smith – resigned from the Congress Accreditation Committee after questions of conflict of interest were raised at a meeting of the CEC. Following their resignation, the PNCR had said that the work was far advanced and the date for congress would not be affected. However, Ferguson at the CEC level moved a motion to review the systems in place for the congress.
On December 5, Alexander said, he received the correspondence from Ally to assess the state of readiness and that was followed by another letter from Winston Felix outlining the intended arrangements and procedures for the holding of the elections.
Alexander said that from December 5 to December 8 he was in contact with Felix along with Mortimer Mingo and one “Ms Alleyne” from the Accreditation Committee in an effort to ascertain the work done. His report added that he was provided with “pertinent documentation and information about the intention to hold elections at the Congress on December 11, 2021.”
“With those documents and information at my disposal and the knowledge of what is necessary for the successful holding of the elections on December 11, 2021, I have come to the conclusion that pertinent materials are still not available,” the report stated.
Explaining the reasoning behind his conclusion, Alexander said that the party’s voters` lists and ballot papers are still being prepared and though they were promised within 24 hours, he believes that there is not sufficient time to guarantee their delivery at the various polling places. He added that officials were yet to be briefed and the candidates were yet to be consulted on procedural matters that require their agreement, among other outstanding matters, including the schedule for the movement of materials to the places of poll.
Outlining his proposed schedule for the hosting of the elections on December 18, Alexander proposed that candidates be consulted no later than December 12; officials are briefed no later than December 13 and that includes arranging for them to have phones and data to transmit the results of the count; and the voters` lists and ballot papers be ready by December 14 latest and dispatched with the other elections material on Thursday thru Friday.
“In the aforementioned circumstances, I am prepared to work towards a free, fair and free from fear elections on December 18, 2021,” he reported.
According to Alexander’s report, the conclusions were drawn using three bases: “Imagery – what impression does the conduct of the elections create; Effectiveness – achieving the objective of a well-run election; and Openness and Inclusion – ensuring that the stakeholders understand and endorse the process by virtue of their inclusion and access to the relevant information.”
Current Chairperson of the Party, Volda Lawrence, Basil Williams SC, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, Aubrey Norton, Dr Richard Van-West Charles, Carl Greenidge and Sharma Solomon are the nominees for the post of Party Leader. Thus far, Williams, Harmon, Norton and Van-West Charles have accepted their nominations are openly campaigning.
While Solomon reportedly declined the nomination and threw his support behind Van-West Charles, there have been silence from Lawrence and Greenidge.
For the position of Chairman, Lawrence, Gary Best, Shurwayne Holder, Amanza Walton-Desir, Roysdale Ford, Ferguson; Norton, Solomon, Ronald Bulkan, Christopher Jones, Van-West Charles, Simona Broomes, Geeta Chandan, Dawn Hastings, Harmon, and Mervyn Williams were nominated.
Additionally, 30 Group Nominations were received for Party Vice-Chairman and 18 for Party Treasurer.
The closely watched race is the one for the Office of the Leader. Thus far, Norton is rumoured to be the clear front runner and according to usually reliable sources, he received the most nominations.
