-Ming, Van West-Charles, Norton on board
Former PNCR Chairman Winston Murray yesterday picked up key endorsements to strengthen his candidacy as he became the sole challenger to incumbent Robert Corbin for the leadership of the main opposition party.
At a joint news conference hosted at the Pegasus Hotel, the other nominee for leader Dr Richard Van West-Charles announced he would pull out of the race and back Murray’s candidacy, urging that delegates at the PNCR’s 16th Biennial Congress throw their full support behind him as well. “The aim is to bring about unity within our party and it means opening our doors to all those who wish to participate with us,” Murray declared to loud applause by supporters, who included current executives as well as former members of the party’s Reform component and Vincent Alexander’s aborted 2007 leadership campaign.
Murray’s candidacy is seen as a significant development in light of the disaffection with Corbin’s leadership and the need for the party to present a new image to the public in the wake of several demoralising occurrences, and in particular the crushing defeat at the 2006 general elections. Among those present to show their support for Murray yesterday were MPs Aubrey Norton, Debra Backer and Mervyn Williams, former MPs Dr Dalgleish Joseph and James McAllister, Reform co-founders Stanley Ming and Artie Ricknauth and several party stalwarts. It was indicated that former Reform members have pledged their support and would be willing to return to work with the party. Former Vice-Chairman Alexander, who along with supporters withdrew from the party last year, was also expected to attend to endorse Murray’s bid for leadership but he was said to be at an emergency meeting at the University of Guyana.
Norton, who was also nominated to be leader, said he decided to support Murray and had been encouraging him to run for the post like Van West-Charles. Murray said he was humbled by the support and he praised Van West-Charles’ selflessness. “I regard [him] as someone who has truly demonstrated that he understands that this is not about self but it is about our party, and even more importantly our country,” he stated, noting that Van West-Charles had indicated his support for his candidacy two years ago, though at the time he had no desire to run. Since then, he explained, there have been circumstances and events that have brought about a change on his part.
He resigned as Chairman last year, citing the party’s public departure from a position he took while acting as party leader in the absence of Corbin. However, he was averse to speak about the contest between him and Corbin as a personal one, saying he has a view about where the party ought to go and is offering it to delegates and members. He emphasised, “I don’t see myself as running against anybody. I am running for something! And I hope in running for something I can take people along with me who have a similar vision of what we are running for.”
Murray noted that the response to the publicity given to his decision to contest for leader has been overwhelming. “At the end of the day, I saw it not as a personal thing, but as something I should do in the interest of the party and in the broader interest of the country, ultimately,” he added, while expressing confidence about victory.
Addressing the concerns about electoral preparations for the congress, he said that no system would be perfect and he noted that Van West-Charles had been addressing such issues with the relevant persons in the party. “I would like to leave it to that and say that up to the very moment before elections take place we hope that there will be opportunity and willingness to do what is necessary to … ensure that the [PNCR] comes out of its electoral process better than it went into it,” he stated.
Although he conceded that the society remains polarised along ethnic lines, Murray sought to downplay the impact that race would have on the contest with Corbin. (The previous day the party’s Vice-Chairman Basil Williams said he would be willing to step aside to facilitate the candidacy of an Indo-Guyanese for that post.) “The PNC has a unique opportunity to demonstrate to all of Guyana that we are truly a party of inclusivity by putting someone of my ethnic background, so to speak, in the highest office within the party,” Murray said. He further noted that in his 30 years of experience in the party, he has received nothing but unconditional love and affection and an open embrace from the rank and file of the party membership. “I, therefore, am reinforced by that display of openness and love and respect for me that at the end of the day it would be matters of that kind rather than anything to do with ethnicity that will determine whether I succeed in my bid to be leader of the [PNCR],” he added.
‘Put party first’
Van West-Charles, a former Health Minister in the PNC administration as well as the son-in-law of the party’s founder leader Forbes Burnham, had indicated his interest in contesting for leadership at the start of the year.
In announcing his decision, he urged all participants at the congress to “seize the moment to selflessly put the party first” and to “contribute to this collective effort to retool, reorganise and reenergise” the PNCR. He explained that he decided to contest for the post of leader in light of the concerns of members all across the country about the PNCR’s weak leadership. However, despite a strong and encouraging response, he said he maintained contact with all persons interested in repositioning, reforming and re-energising the party, including Murray. He noted that over the last two years, he has been engaging Murray on the issue of the party leadership, that they discussed wide ranging issues and agreed on a broad vision for the rebuilding and retooling the party for government in 2011. “We are fully aware that our vision can only be realised with change in leadership and that this change can be better achieved if one candidate faces the incumbent,” he explained, before announcing his decision to support Murray, whom he said has the requisite credentials to lead the party. “It is my conviction that with him standing as the candidate for leader of the party, the forces for change and reorganisation stand an excellent chance of prevailing at the forthcoming congress,” he added.
According to Van West-Charles, the party must be in a position not only to excite the people of Guyana by a new vision and new hope but to also end the “nightmare” of the PPP/C government and place the country on a new developmental path. Saying that the Bharrat Jagdeo administration and the ruling PPP/C have been trying to destroy the PNCR and claim parts of its political base, he stressed the need to reorganise and reenergise the party. “We must empower our membership by ensuring their involvement in decision making at all levels and building their capacities both personally and collectively,” he said, while pointing out that his partnership with Murray would give renewed hope of change to all members and supporters of the party. In particular, he emphasised the need to reinvigorate the youth and women’s arms of the PNCR, noting their significant contributions to its development and expansion.
Speaking about his future, Van West-Charles said the withdrawal of his candidacy for leader did not mean that his work for change would come to an end and indicated that he would be willing to serve in any other capacity in keeping with the wishes of the party’s electorate. He did, however, rule out contesting for the chairmanship, noting that he only accepted the nominations for party leader and member of the Central Executive Committee. Norton said he would contest the other positions he had been nominated for.
‘Re-invigorated Reform’
Reform co-founder, Ming, who shared the head table, said his presence was an indication of his unconditional support for Murray’s candidacy as leader. He recalled that the Reform members had withdrawn from the PNCR in the run up to the last general elections. “At the time we did not feel we could contribute in a way we would have liked in the political process,” he said, adding, Murray’s leadership bid has given them renewed hope that they could work with the party to bring about the change in the political culture the nation has been longing for. “We are ready, willing and, I think, somewhat capable to support him to bring about the kind of culture that is needed in the politics of Guyana that embraces us not as Indo-, Afro- or any other combination, but as Guyanese,” Ming declared, saying that everyone should be able to participate in the decision-making process that influences the well-being of the people’s lives and ensures that they have a stake. He was confident, pointing out that since his withdrawal from political life he has continued to work quietly in the background with many former colleagues in the party, who share similar interests and objectives about the direction of the politics of Guyana. “I sit here, ready and willing to work as hard as ever to ensure that not only does Mr Murray succeed in his bid for the leadership of the PNC but more so that Mr Murray will lead this country and a new political culture into the next election that will bring victory to all Guyanese, not a particular group,” Ming said.
Although the Reform component has been formally integrated into the party, apart from Dr George Norton none of its original members are involved in the party. In addition to Ming, Eric Phillips, Jerome Khan, Peter Ramsaroop, Dr Mark Kirton and Supriya Singh also left the party. Singh, Ming revealed, is supportive of Murray as leader.
Murray served as a senior minister and deputy prime minister in the PNC administration between 1985 and 1992. He also served as head of the Presidential Secretariat, head of the Department of International Economic Cooperation, and permanent secretary in the Ministry of Trade. Murray also had a stint in diplomatic service at Guyana’s Embassy in Brussels. He has been an MP for the PNC since 1985 and served as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee until May 2006.
