The biennial delegates’ congress of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is expected to be held in April or August of 2024, says party leader Aubrey Norton.
His disclosure to Stabroek News yesterday came following a letter published by this newspaper where party supporter Norman Browne accused the PNCR Central Executive Committee (CEC) of complicity in the extension of Norton’s tenure as party leader and not treating the holding of the biennial congress as a priority since it is constitutionally mandated.
But Norton rebuffed these claims and made it clear that his tenure will not be extended and noted that the biennial congress will be held next year.
He recounted that the last PNCR Biennial delegates congress was in held virtually in December 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now what some people are trying to say is that it should be held in December, now the reality is that it is not a virtual congress like it was in December so it will be either in April or August when school is out so that we can get everyone to attend the conference,” he explained.
“I want to assure you that it will be held next year, there were some instances where the congress was not held exactly one year after so people are just trying to create their own perspectives and I would not even bother with that,” Norton added.
The letter by Browne suggested that the PNCR’s constitution must serve as the bedrock upon which the party’s democratic principles are built. Within this document, the timing and frequency of the biennial delegates’ congress are clearly outlined. “Any attempt, without meritorious reasons such as it is the year of Regional and General Elections or a pandemic is with us, to extend Aubrey Norton’s term beyond the constitutional limit represents a dangerous precedent, undermining the rule of law within the party,” the letter stated.
The Opposition Leader when asked about this said that the author of the letter is clearly clueless about his party’s mandates and stipulations in relation to hosting of congress.
“The party’s disregard of its constitution would compromise its very foundation, casting doubt on its commitment to democratic principles, as the frivolous reason for an August congress is weak because in December schools are also closed” the letter further contended.
