PNCR stalwart Cammie Ramsaroop has been elected Chairman of the main opposition party.
Ramsaroop, a former minister in the PNC government who had previously served in the post,
Cammie Ramsaroop
had been supported by incumbent party leader Robert Corbin and he was declared the winner after polls at the party’s 16th Biennial Congress.
Two other Corbin supporters, MPs Basil Williams and Dr. George Norton, were elected vice-chairpersons for the party. Significantly, days prior to the elections Williams, the leading candidate for the post of Chairman, controversially announced that he would step aside to facilitate the candidacy of an Indo-Guyanese candidate. Stabroek News was unable to confirm the results of elections for 15-member Central Executive Committee.
Incumbent Corbin was declared the winner after the first round of voting on Saturday evening, defeating challenger Winston Murray. He secured 614 votes to Murray’s 223, with the latter accepting the results and saying that given the wide margin of victory that despite flaws in the process and irregularities in the procedures, the incumbent would have won. Murray, who said he was disappointed by the results, also said he would take time to think about his political future.
Meanwhile, Convenor of the Accreditation Committee for the Congress, Lance Carberry said that he was not aware of massive irregularities in the process. He told Stabroek News yesterday that all the candidates had accepted the delegates’ list as accurate prior to voting. After addendums were submitted, identifying where there had been replacement delegates, the register numbered 1175. The process allows for the replacement of delegates and new delegates cards are issued where this is done. Carberry made it clear that cards are not transferred from one person to another and each has a unique identification number.
Carberry noted that Winston Murray and his group asked to verify the delegates list and upon a check by the returning officer’s assistants as well as the election observers, the accuracy of the list was accepted. Registration of replacements was subsequently ceased.
In response to concerns expressed by several people about the registration process, Carberry noted that he had not received any official complaints. “It is in my own interest to check to make sure the system I put in place worked properly,” he said, adding that he would be interested in any cases where there is evidence of irregularities.
Carberry also debunked the report that PNCR MP Judith Blair should have been an automatic voting delegate, explaining that she could not be since her party membership was not renewed by the deadline and she was not a financial member. As a result, she was offered the option of being an observer, he noted.
Prior to the voting, one man showed this newspaper a delegate card for a person whom he claimed was dead. He explained that he was told at the registration centre that his name was not on the list of delegates and after calling a regional representative he was then given a card with someone else’s name. The card appeared to be an official delegates’ card and had an identification number and Carberry’s signature. Other persons also had similar reports, saying that multiple cards were issued to supporters of the incumbent outside of the proper registration procedures.
When asked about the reports of irregularities during the registration process, Carberry said if there were any such activities then the persons who were tasked with administering the registration exercise were not doing their jobs. “If people violated those procedures, I need to know but I will check it out,” he said. Further, he revealed that he is reviewing the cards that were issued as well as those returned to him after he stopped the registration.
Voting at the polls began nearly five hours after the scheduled start owing to problems during the registration of delegates, which had first been manifested on the days before the official opening.
There were numerous claims of disenfranchisement during and after registration for delegates on Saturday, including by many members from hinterland regions 1, 7 and 9, who were only allowed to attend as observers rather than delegates. Similar complaints were made by persons from other regions as well.
Tempers flared between Corbin’s and Murray’s supporters in front of the registration centre at the start of the day, as persons lined up to collect their delegate and observer ID cards. The arrival of a contingent of Corbin supporters from regions 4 and 5, who were bussed in, led to confusion as people claimed that ID cards were being handed out in wads before any of them completed their registration. According to the official guidelines for the registration, persons were supposed to go to the centre and sign to uplift cards.
And the charade of ethnic tokenism continues! Reading the tea leaves, I am beginning to lose interest in carrying on any active discussion on Guyana’s political situation, because I long suspected that there has been a backroom deal between Jagdeo and Corbin that would require Corbin to lay low with his opposition attacks and allow Jagdeo to gain political stature and dominance through a series of dictatorial moves, which would enable him to push the PPP hierarchy aside (or at least take it over in an emergency staged PPP Congress before the 2011 elections) and turn to Corbin for a third term in exchange for ’shared governance’ and the PM slot. In the end, such a teaming up will not make Indians and blacks the true winners; only Jagdeo and Corbin and their respective political lackeys. God, I pray I am wrong and lose this one if only for the good of a suffering nation, but I am wagering a hundered bucks, for starters, that Jagdeo will go for a third term and he will turn to the PNC for help via Parliament, thus making Corbin PM. I’ve said vefore, it would be the beginning of the worst dictatorship in Guyana, because it would be two egomaniacs without a vision or an ounce of genuine care for people relying on sheer political theatrics and bullying force to get their way.
I can assure you that Jagdeo will not run for a third term, as , you can see he is a true stateman, and not like his oppostion. Jagdeo is man of principles and dignity and he will prove to his oppostion wrong.
So true because the PNC can never win with Corbin even some of there staunch supporters will never vote for Corbin.For what is best for the PNC Corbin should step down now.
Dandy, I pray that you are wrong too. The only thing we can wish for is the AFC getting enough votes to block that process. If enough ‘Big Wigs’ from the the PNC show leanings to AFC or, keep their faces away from PNC it can work against PNC. Similarly, if enough indians wake up to see that it’s their money going to line the pockes of some in the government and not for the benefit of everybody in the country, they may wake up.
I don’t know if I have hope in Guyana anymore. My wife and I had a strange discussion a few days ago, she ask me if I die tomorrow whether I want to be buried in Guyana? All my life I wanted this but in the last 2 years there is a slow change in my feelings such that its now a 45% yes (Guyana) and a 55% no (let my remains be in Canada).
When this happens to someone internal feelings, its significant change and an acceptance of the fact that hope is evaporating.
WCD….The PPPC is the best Government Guyana has ever had and will ever have, so enough of this speculation with ACF and PNC these two parties are visionless and are almost dead,,,
Guyana is a place for Peace Progress and Prosperity to Continue (PPPC)…
WCD,I am sorry to say, I’ve got the same feelings. I can feel my hope and longing for Guyana gradually dying.
“Tokenism”? Window Dressing? What would you call Ramjattan?
Wow Dandy Andy! What an imagination!
Dandy Andy……i’ve been hearing the same thing…..old saying..’where there’s smoke…..there’s fire’…..remember how fast the Jadgeo govt looked after Corbin when he was ill….Jadgeo needs Corbin…..too many PPP stalwarts waiting in the wings….Jagdeo was never an ‘insider’…..so between now and next election he has to make his move…..just like you said…two men with huge egos……Guyana is heading for the dumps….sad but true……only hope is for Indians and Africans to realise..we’re all Guyanese…..and start to think that way…..
how heavy was your AXE this morning——moderator
This was Corbin’s promise at the 2007 Congress “… ensure that by our 2009 Congress, the Party must have at every level, fresh and talented young faces representing every shade of Guyana’s life in the leadership of the party at both the local and national levels.”
Instead he brought back an old stalwart who retired 25yrs ago. Talk about shameless
Well Cammie must be the freshest thing Corbin could find without feeling too insecure. Can’t see anyone coming up with any new ideas from this lot.
Corbin’s at the helm of the P.N.C. is the accelerant needed to complete its immolation. This man is the best ally the P.P.P. could have hoped for.
Hey Gaul, he brought back himself too and the ever present window “ethnic” dressings of the PPP/PNC…and let’s not forget good ol’ Mr Rigg too. He could always come in handy when parties and party-leaders have long overstayed their welcome.
Despite who is the chairperson, the pnc is still a sinking ship going nowhere fast.
I agree.
Ditto….
AMEN=RA.
WHAT HAPPENED TO GO MURRAY GO???????????
SN IS SO BIAS THEY NOW REFUSE TO PUBLISH ALL OF MY BLOGS.
Window dressing all the way. The sinking is not fast enough. Guyana will soon awake from this long nightmare.
Nothing happen wid go murray go, murray went… didnt he?
The fraudulent election of the leader of the P.N.C. is part of the process in the elimination of the party as a positive force in Guyana’s future. There is now great discontent and factions that feel aggrieved that the democratic process was highjacked. This P.N.C. can’t win over supporters of the P.P.P. or any other party for that matter and its decline towards insignificance has started. Let’s hope its rapid. Excuses from Carberry about the authenticity and acceptance of the delegates lists are to be pitied.
The P.N.C. has had three leaders. I don’t think Burnham and Hoyte were ever opposed at any Congress. That’s a demonstration of leadership. Corbin, has never secured the adoration, admiration or respect of the intelligent membership of the party and will be the one to lay the final nail in the coffin.
Just the result that I predicted,,,now the funeral arrangements of the late PNCR will be announced later,,, One down one more to go… Where is Samaroo??? We coming for you and your AFC now, this peppersauce thing come up again and they making nuff noise, they showing guilt…We will apply some Slow Fire on them…
bora what you talking about, the nail is already in the coffin, we just wainting for the funeral and burial.
Why using these old machinery in these top position.We need to see a new and dynamic P.N.C.Corban should never ran for leadership.murray should know better ……..than being a scapegoat….R T was there he also ran against corban for leadership…..he should advised murray to do otherwise…What next same old p and see.
It is business as usual at Congress Place. The only viable challenge to the PPP is the AFC if they can build a party machinery to get out the grass roots votes. They may want to look at bringing in the more progressive wing of the PNC who possess these skills. Leave Corbin and Cammie with the baggage. This can still be a winning situation for the progressive forces in the PNC.
“stalwart”says it all.I know what to expect.
Why does Corbin find it so difficult to relinquish his position as the PNC leader? It will be more of the same crap in Guyana for a long time to come – the country is sinking even faster!!!!
NE NE, corbin or no corbin, the pnc will never rule guyana again not even in another life time,because guyana will not sink faster but immediately if the pnc get a chance again, GOD give his people bread to eat but the PNC give them plantain and cassava.
Cammie Ramsaroop is an old flame of Burnhamism and he knows the crafty art to divide in order to exist. Since Burnham is no more, Cammie is ineffective. Bad choice by Carben for Chairman.
Abide with me pass all evening tides.That is the next song the PNC will be singing.