People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member, Dawn Hastings-Williams was yesterday announced as the party’s new General Secretary.
Describing her as “eminently qualified,” Party Leader, Aubrey Norton, made the announcement at his weekly Leader of the Opposition press conference in the presence of Hasting-Williams, PNCR Chairman, Shurwayne Holder, and economist, Elson Low.
“This opportunity is taken to inform the people of Guyana that Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams MP, has been appointed General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform. Mrs. Hastings-Williams is a longstanding member of our Party who is eminently qualified to serve as General Secretary,” Norton said.
Hastings-Williams’ appointment follows the resignation of Geeta Chandan-Edmond last month.
Expanding on his decision to appoint the former Minister of State to the post, he said that she has the academic qualifications, possesses integrity, and is well respected by members countrywide.
“In my opinion, she has been long-standing in the party and most importantly she has a good relationship with all the regions and so in the party and so those factors would have determined,” Norton stated.
When asked by a member of the press what her priorities are in the new post, Norton interjected with a response before Hastings-Williams could answer the question.
The Opposition Leader said that she was only appointed yesterday and it would be unfair to her to have to answer any questions now. He added that they will have to meet and discuss the party’s affairs and she would present her position on the matters at the right time.
She later stated that she is focussed on representing her constituency and being out in the fields to have an understanding of what is happening on the ground as well as the issues members face.
The Party leader had stated last week that he consulted with a number of persons within the party before making his decision on the choice of a General Secretary.
Party sources confirmed that Chandan-Edmond, a former magistrate, had resigned effective December 14, 2022, after a leave of absence. Norton had appointed her to serve as General Secretary of the PNCR on January 3, 2022, following the party’s Congress. Chandan-Edmond is a former AFC member but joined the PNCR a few years ago and was elected to the Central Executive at last year’s Congress.
However, she remains a member of the party and a Member of Parliament for the opposition APNU+AFC.
