Granger leads nominations for PNCR leader

In what is turning out to be a two-horse race for the post of PNCR leader, retired Brigadier David Granger is leading former Finance Minister Carl Greenidge in the nominations ahead of the party’s 17th Biennial Delegates Congress, scheduled for the end of this month.

Granger, who is currently Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, received 108 of the 168 nominations for the position of leader, PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke told a news conference yesterday. Greenidge received 55 nominations, while incumbent party leader Robert Corbin—who indicated he would not run—received two nominations, while executives Volda Lawrence, Basil Williams and Aubrey Norton picked up one nomination each. Clarke confirmed yesterday that Corbin has not accepted the nomination, but noted that he would be vying for a seat on the party’s Central Executive Committee.

Carl Greenidge

Asked about the apparent support for Granger, who was elected the PNCR’s presidential candidate last year ahead of Greenidge, Clarke noted that nominations so not necessarily indicate voting patterns.

A total of 174 groups have been accredited by the Secretariat for participation in the nomination process and Clarke said that it is expected that over 800 persons will be eligible to vote in the elections at the Congress. In addition to the election of a new leader, the Congress will also see the election of the party Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer.

For the post of Chairman, there were 159 nominations, with incumbent Cammie Ramsaroop receiving 60, Basil Williams receiving 57, Clement Corlette, 15, and Aubrey Norton, 12. For the post of Vice-Chairpersons, for which each party group was entitled to submit two nominees, Dr. George Norton led nominations with 106, followed by Williams (80), Lawrence (61), Deborah Backer (16), Aubrey Norton (12), Joseph Harmon (11), Ramsaroop (7), Corbin (7), James Bond (6) and 15 other persons.

The nominations for the post of Treasurer saw Ronald Bulkan leading with 46, followed by Clarence Charles (33), Lawrence (27), Ivelaw Henry (13) Corlette (8) and 5 others.

Clarke said that the nominations now have to be looked at in terms of who has accepted their nominations. He said that a number of persons who have been asked to indicate whether they accepted their nominations have not yet done so. He said that as at two Fridays ago, he had received only 86 responses. “One of the responses is that Corbin would not be running for any post except for membership on the Central Executive Committee,” he noted.

After a General Council Meeting on March 2, the PNCR announced that it would be holding its Congress from July 27 to July 29, 2012. The theme of the Congress is ‘A United PNCR Securing Our Future through a Government of National Unity.’ The election of office bearers will take place on the last day of the Congress and the results of the vote will be released on the very evening.

The party’s special congress in February last year, where Granger was elected as its presidential candidate, was at the time noted for being without the controversy that plagued previous internal elections. Although the results were accepted, former party executive Dr Faith Harding subsequently accused the PNCR of running an unfair primary process that favoured Granger over the other contestants. Among the requirements at those elections was having attendees presenting photo identification when registering, which the party indicated would be used for other congresses if the procedure was successful.

Regarding the arrangements for the Congress, Clarke said yesterday that the Accreditation Committee has discussed the arrangements for all the delegates and these have been communicated to each one of them. “There will be very strict observance of the rules which have been worked out and these have been sent to the groups,” he explained.

“As late as last evening, those rules were being discussed in the Central Executive Committee,” he said, adding that he does not see the need for concern over the running of the elections.

Clarke said that for the elections, candidates and delegates would be required to have photo identification along with other forms of identification. “[Persons will need] picture ID, delegates’ card and another form of identification, which other persons [won’t have]. This third form of ID will be given to delegates only,” he said, while adding that no work place identification cards will be accepted.

Asked on the matter of the Returning Officer for the elections, he said that this person has been identified but the arrangements have not been finalised as yet since the matter is still being dealt with by the Central Executive Committee.