People’s National Congress Islahat (PNCR) Returning Officer, Vincent Alexander, for its 22nd Biennial Congress, yesterday addressed the media on the election held Sunday, June 30, 2024. According to Alexander “all of the activities were conducted without any breaches, except for the slothful voting and the extended period of the count of the ballots for central executive committee members, albeit the statements of polls for the executive offices were issued on the said day after the count, while the statement for the central executive members is now being issued within 24 hours of the conclusion of the count as stipulated in the provisions of the Procedures and Instructions for the conduct of the Elections.”
Alexander told the media he was proud of the work he did. However, the election has not been without allegations and counter-allegations of irregularities. Amanza Walton-Desir and Roysdale Forde, who were candidates for Party Leader, withdrew from the participation citing concerns about the possibility of a free, fair and transparent process.
Aubrey Norton was returned as Leader, Sherwayne Holder as Chairman, Elizabeth Williams-Niles as Vice-Chairperson and Vinceroy Jordan, Vice-Chairperson. Elson Low is the newly elected Treasurer.
The new 15-Central Executive Committee members are: Nima Flue-Bess, Mervyn Williams, Ganesh Mahipaul, Coretta McDonald, Robin Simon, Riaz Rupnarain, Anil Sugrim, Joan Ann Ramascindo, Sherwood Lowe, Troy Garraway, Kemel Kissoon, Marcia Gordon, Wainwright McIntosh, Deron Adams and Jermaine Figueira,
Alexander’s statement follows:
My task today is a very simple one, to wit the declaration of the Results of the People’s National Congress internal elections. The Elections were conducted on Sunday, June 30, on the last day of the PNCR’s 22nd Biennial Delegates Congress. The positions which were contested are leader, chairperson, two vice-chairpersons, treasurer, and 15 central executive committee members.
VA & Associates were engaged to conduct the elections, which entailed being provided with the list of delegates/electors and the list of nominees, and the conduct of all of the procedures from that point to the current activity, the declaration of the results. VA & Associates therefore bears responsibility for the entire process outlined above. As a precursor to the conduct of the elections, VA & Associates met with the Congress Committee and the candidates who were nominated to contest for the executive offices, respectively, and sought their concurrence on the intended manner of conduct of the elections. The elections were therefore conducted based on the agreed to procedures. All of the officials are associates of VA & Associates and unaffiliated to the Party.
Process itself entailed: 1. Voter identification based on the voter’s list, a delegation card and a picture ID, the delegate cards were retained by the Presiding Officers for return after polling; 2. The issuance of five ballots to each voter, one for each of the positions that was contested; 3. The actual balloting; 4. The ballot count; and 5. The declarations, which are the objects of today`s exercise. All of the activities were conducted without any breaches, except for the slothful voting and the extended period of the count of the ballots for central executive committee members, albeit the statements of polls for the executive offices were issued on the said day after the count, while the statement for the central executive members is now being issued within 24 hours of the conclusion of the count as stipulated in the provisions of the Procedures and Instructions for the conduct of the Elections.
It is therefore my pleasure to make the following declaration of the Results:
- Aubrey C. Norton, Leader
- Shurwayne Holder, Chairperson
- Elizabeth Williams-Niles, Vice-Chairperson
- Vinceroy Jordan, Vice-Chairperson
- Elson Low, Treasurer
- Nima Flue-Bess, Mervyn Williams, Ganesh Mahipaul, Coretta McDonald, Robin Simon, Riaz Rupnarain, Anil Sugrim, Joan Ann Ramascindo, Sherwood Lowe, Troy Garraway, Kemel Kissoon, Marcia Gordon, Wainwright McIntosh, Deron Adams and Jermaine Figueira, central executive committee members.
Thank You.
Vincent Alexander
Returning Officer