Georgetown: The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) said it will postpone the party’s highly anticipated 21st Biennial Congress and internal elections to December 18, following recommendations from the party’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Vincent Alexander.
The PNC/R Congress was initially slated for Saturday, December 11; however, over the past weeks, several members of the party have raised concerns about the internal process surrounding the elections.
With these concerns made public, the party’s CEC last Friday tasked Alexander, who is also a Commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), with assessing the internal elections process and pronouncing on the way forward.
The CEC’s agreement to have Alexander vet the elections process came following the resignation of three members from the party’s Elections Accreditation Committee. The three members, Ganesh Mahipaul, Carol Joseph, and Annette Ferguson, were accused of being biased, a statement from the party’s Congress Place, Sophia headquarters hinted.
The placement of Mahipaul, Ferguson and Joseph on the Accreditation Committee was said to have been called into question given that they were all nominated for positions and were actively campaigning.
With only four members on the Accreditation Committee initially, Mortimer Mingo is now the last remaining member.
All three members have thrown their support behind Joseph Harmon for the leadership. Harmon, who is currently the parliamentary Opposition Leader, is Norton’s main rival in the battle for the leadership.
Also nominated for the position of party Leader are former PNC/R Chairman, Basil Williams and Dr Richard Van-West Charles, who have both openly confirmed acceptance of their nominations.
Current party Chairman, Volda Lawrence, and party executive, Carl Greenidge, have also received nominations but have been mum about their acceptance.
Former Chairman of Region 10, Sharma Solomon, was also nominated for the position of party leader but has since said he has declined the nomination.
Solomon has chosen, instead, to focus on his candidacy for party Chairman while giving his support to Dr Van-West Charles for the position of party leader.
Party executive Aubrey Norton, who is currently in the running for the party leadership, confirmed the move of the Congress, noting that it was a unanimous decision by the CEC.
“It is confirmed, it was agreed unanimously by all of us. I would say it is in the interest of the party and that is what informed the decision,” Norton commented.
Norton said he would not comment on the factors that necessitated the extension of the hosting of the Congress. He noted, however, that he would take the remaining time to strengthen his campaign.
“I wouldn’t get involved in that,” he said cautiously, adding: “I consider that to be the party’s private business. I intend to intensify my political work to get more support as my campaign has been going good and I am confident that I will win.”
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