Sealing the leadership of the PNCR as expected, Aubrey Norton was on Sunday also declared by the 22nd Biennial Congress to be the party’s presidential candidate and it left it solely up to him to decide on any other arrangement for the contesting of the presidency.
The motion passed by the congress on him being the presidential candidate is seen as significant in light of recent suggestions that there could be a consensual figure among opposition parties for the 2025 elections for which a preliminary voters list has been issued.
It would mean that Norton would have to be persuaded to step aside if he was not the consensual candidate. There have been intimations that the Alliance For Change’s new leader Nigel Hughes could be presented as a consensual presidential candidate.
With official results only having been released yesterday morning despite being promised on Sunday evening, the three-day Congress was riven by further controversy on Saturday when several key figures withdrew their nominations for executive positions.
A statement yesterday from the PNCR said that aside from Norton being returned unopposed as Party Leader, Shurwayne Holder was re-elected Chairman of the Party, Vinceroy Jordan and Elizabeth Williams-Niles were re-elected Vice Chairpersons and Elson Low was elected Treasurer of the Party.
According to the statement, 1,300 delegates representing 218 groups were accredited. It said that delegates came from all ten administrative regions of Guyana as well as from the North American and the United Kingdom region to deliberate on the serious issues affecting the Party and the nation.
It said that the highlight of the opening day on Friday was the Congress Address by Norton in which he described his Party’s people’s centred vision as a Contract with Guyana that “puts people first and will utilize the resources of Guyana to achieve the ultimate goal of providing a high quality of life to the people of Guyana through the direct and indirect transfer of resources to our people, to educate them, support their mobilization of resources to work, and for investment with the aim of alleviating and ultimately eradicating poverty while simultaneously resulting in the sustainable development of all communities and sectors of the Guyanese society, as well as the promotion of good governance and the creation of a just and prosperous society.”
The statement said that Norton also touched on national security, foreign policy, and the necessity for biometrics and a clean voters list at the next general election.
Congress also examined several motions that were brought by local and overseas Party groups. These motions called on the Party to work towards establishing racial unity in Guyana, ensuring the implementation of its people-centred vision and providing transportation to support the Party’s work in the Hinterland regions, among other matters.
On the final day of Congress, the statement said that elections for Party officers and members of the Central Executive Committee of the Party were conducted in accordance with the procedures set out by the independent Returning Officer, Vincent Alexander.
For identification, delegates were required to display to the election officials both their delegates badge and a picture ID.
“The turnout was overwhelming and attests to the vibrancy and strength of the Party and the commitment and loyalty of its membership”, the statement said.
Counting of votes for the election of the fifteen-member Central Executive Committee of the PNCR continued yesterday morning.
The theme for the Biennial Congress was: “Forming the next government: building a just, inclusive, and prosperous society for all.”
The recital to the motion on the presidential candidate noted that the Party Leader has historically been the Party’s Presidential Candidate save for 2011 when the then Party Leader made that decision in his own deliberate judgement.
The resolve clause said: “BE IT RESOLVED that the candidate elected as Party Leader at this the 22nd Biennial Delegates Congress shall be the party’s presidential candidate for the next General and Regional elections.
“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the elected Party Leader is solely empowered to decide, if he or she so chooses, on other possible choices or arrangements for Presidential Candidate”.
Setbacks
In recent weeks, the PNCR has reeled from a series of setbacks. A Partnership for National Unity – the coalition that the PNCR had helped form – announced that it had elected new office bearers in the absence of the PNCR. This was rejected by Norton.
Days later, Norton was faced with accusations of sexual harassment by party member Vanessa Kissoon which he strenuously denied. This matter is being examined by party elders. In the interim charges and counter charges flowed among party members leading to acrimony on social media.
On June 24, just days before the congress was to start, party General Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams resigned with immediate effect citing dissatisfaction with arrangements for the congress, financial matters and humiliating incidents.
In her resignation letter seen by Stabroek News, Hastings-Williams recounted a plethora of problems to Norton.
She said she disagreed that the congress could be called with just one month for planning. Other members of the PNCR have also complained about this.
“With all the administrative task that has to be undertaken by the secretariat, I believe that the one-month period for preparation for such a congress can lead to confusion rather than having a fair and transparent process and outcome. I am quite sure that you and the members of the CEC (Central Executive Committee) will agree with me that when the Congress is over it must conclude in a positive light”, Hastings-Williams said.
She also addressed shenanigans over membership of the party and humiliations she had suffered.
A day later, June 27th, both challengers to Norton for the leadership of the PNCR, Roysdale Forde SC and Amanza Walton-Desir withdrew citing dissatisfaction with preparations for the Congress.
Walton-Desir was the first to withdraw. She announced the sudden suspension of her campaign for leadership citing concerns about the process which includes not receiving a list of delegates to allow for claims and objections. Further, she said that there was a lack of agreement among the candidates on the procedures for the elections.
Hours after Walton-Desir’s announcement, Forde also pulled out in a surprise move.
In a statement, Forde said he refused to participate in an electoral process riddled with irregularities hence his decision to suspend his campaign and acceptance of nominations for all positions nominated. “Today, I hereby formally suspend my candidacy and acceptance of all nominations for the positions to which I have been nominated by Party Groups across the country.”
He explained that his decision was based on the following reasons, which have “significantly impacted” his confidence in the integrity and fairness of the electoral process. Firstly, he was yet to receive a response to several written communications addressed to the Central Executive Committee and the General Secretary regarding concerns about the integrity of the electoral processes for the party’s elections.
Secondly, there had been noticeable “irregularities” concerning the list of delegates, which raise serious concerns about the transparency of the election process. Thirdly, “unreasonable” timelines had been imposed to meet certain requirements for holding the congress, which have placed undue pressure and constraints on the democratic process. And fourthly, members from various regions across the country had expressed dissatisfaction with the extremely limited time provided to organise logistics to attend and effectively participate in the Congress.
On Saturday, day two of the Congress, a number of persons including MP Annette Ferguson withdrew from all positions that they were nominated to.
Voting at the congress (PNCR photo)
The line to vote (PNCR photo)
