The nomination period for the top positions in the Executive of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) will close on Monday, according to the party’s General Secretary, Dawn Hastings-Williams.
During the party’s upcoming Delegates Congress, which will from from the 28th to the 30th June, its delegates will vote to elect their candidates to the top leadership positions of Leader, Chairman, First and Second Vice Chairmen along with the 15 Central Executive Committee (CEC) positions.
The General Secretary said while a number of persons have signaled their willingness to contest in the the party’s internal elections, they will only be allowed to do so after being nominated by the party groups.
“Officially, the groups will have to do their nominations, send those nomination forms with their nominees and the deadline is 10th [of June] and then we will officially know, who and who have been nominated, to run as lead and chairman, etc. Until then, they have up until the 10th to submit,” the General Secretary said.
Current Leader of the PNCR, Aubrey Norton is seeking re-election. However, Executive Members Roysdale Forde and Amanza Walton-Desir are expected to challenge him for the lead position, once nominated.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary said the Congress Committee, which was established by the CEC to spearhead preparations for the Congress, has been working to ensure all systems are in place for Nomination Day and the lead up to the Congress.
She said the committee is currently updating the party’s membership register.
“We are looking at our membership at the moment, those who updated [their membership] and the deadline was Monday [June 3]. So, we are now updating the membership, which will be sent out to the regional groups, and they will have to select their delegations based on those who are eligible members,” Hastings-Williams explained.
Questioned whether the recent decision to derecognize the North American Region (NAR) arm of the PNCR would affect members in North America from participating in the upcoming congress and elections, the General Secretary responded in the negative.
Hastings-Williams said the Leader of the PNCR Aubrey Norton has met with a number of the party groups in North America and it was explained that the existing issue with the NAR will not affect their participation. Those groups, Hastings-Williams said, have been provided with the requisite forms and documents, including membership and nomination forms.
“The groups have also received the circular, the group chairs, so this will in no way affect them from participating at the upcoming congress,” she said.
The 22nd Biennial Delegates Congress will be held under the theme “Forming the next Government: Building a just, inclusive and prosperous society for all.”
The party said the theme was chosen to reflect the party’s determination to return to government in the next general elections, and to implement its people-centered development strategy. (Svetlana Marshall)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login