PNCR still to settle candidate procedures

The PNCR is yet to settle the process by which its presidential candidate is to be decided almost three weeks after the party’s General Council where that procedure was to be finalised.

At the October 23 meeting a decision was made to delay the adoption of procedures with the party opting to undergo a week-long consultation process with party members before making a final decision.

The previous General Council in July had mandated the setting up of a selection committee which was to draft the criteria, system and procedures for the process but Stabroek News learnt that a number of suggestions came from the floor at last month’s meeting and this influenced the decision to conduct the week of consultations.

It was expected that this would allow members of the party to discuss their views with the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).
When Stabroek News contacted General Secretary Oscar Clarke on Monday he said they were “still at the consultation phase.” Asked when this was expected to end Clarke said he did not want to “hazard a guess.”

“When we’re finish you will be informed,” he stated. The situation remained the same yesterday.
PNCR Leader Robert Corbin last week told Stabroek News that he expected that a full report on the process would be made public this week.
Four persons have publicly indicated their interest in being the party’s presidential candidate namely former party Chairman Winston Murray, current Vice-Chairman Basil Williams, former Brigadier David Granger, and former minister Dr. Faith Harding.

Asked whether he favoured any of those individuals to succeed him as the party’s candidate Corbin deferred his endorsement.
“I will wait on the will of the members. As a member I will have my own viewpoint and I’ll have an opportunity to express my own opinion and at that time I will do so but at this moment I’m looking at the process,” the PNCR leader said.

Corbin has said he will not be seeking the candidacy but he will retain leadership of the party.
Stabroek News understands that the proposed procedure to identify the candidate would include the convening of a special congress, where an election would be held, after a list of recommended candidates, in order of priority, is submitted to the CEC. However, there is resistance to the consultation process outlined in the proposal, which some party groups contend does not involve the widest participation by the membership.

The proposal presented to the General Council meeting envisaged that each party group would submit a list of nominees in order of priority to a regional committee. Upon receipt of the lists, the committee would then schedule a special meeting, which would be attended by a representative from each of the groups. At the meeting, the lists would be examined and eventually inform a national list, which would rank candidates in order of priority.

Additionally, the process would see requests to the nominees for resumes and the committee would also be empowered to request interviews of all the shortlisted nominees if it is deemed necessary.

Afterward, the committee would be responsible for compiling its recommended lists of candidates to the CEC, prior to the holding of the special congress.

However, there was representation for the selection process to adopt a “bottom-up” approach, ensuring that every bona fide party member is involved in the consultation process, once it has been properly outlined and scheduled.

Such a process would involve interactions between prospective candidates and party members and supporters and the general public within a specific timetable for completion.

The General Council is the highest forum after the party’s Biennial Congress.
The party’s move to select a candidate was triggered by the announcement by Corbin in March that he was not interested in being the presidential candidate again. Corbin had also said that “a major challenge” for the party was to find “a consensus presidential candidate who could win the confidence of the majority of Guyanese” at the polls.

In addition to a candidate, the party has also been exploring electoral alliances with other opposition forces, including the WPA, GAP and NFA as well as civil society groups. The party has said it is committed to develop, “without precondition” a working understanding with any individual or entity, even from within the PPP, willing to negotiate in good faith on a platform to transform the country.