Since People’s National Congress Islahat (PNCR) member Roysdale Forde announced his interest in running for the post as Leader of the Party there is an allegation circulating that he is an agent of the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
The post doing the rounds on social media said Forde, who is a senior counsel and member of parliament, was paid by the PPP to affix a wrong date on the affidavit signed by former President David Granger for Election Petition No. 99, filed by Monica Thomas and Brenan Nurse who sought to challenge the outcome of the March 2, 2020 Regional and General Elections.
Village Voice News reached out to Forde for a comment on the matter. He denied any involvement in this aspect of the petition and referred this publication to Mayo Robertson Chambers.
When contacted for a comment on the issue attorney Mayo Robertson said “any suggestion that Roysdale Forde received money from the PPP not to file the case on time is arrant nonsense.”
Robertson also pointed out that in that matter, Forde had represented the Petitioners and not Granger and did not and could not have affixed any date on the Affidavit sworn to by Granger.
As this publication prod further, the attorney said he will not discuss details of this issue beyond this point due to the abundance of respect for attorney/client privilege.
Whilst the PNCR has not announced a date for its Biennial Delegates Congress, which was due in December 2023, Party Leader Aubrey Norton informed the media the Congress will be held on or before August 31, 2024.
The pundit class and party supporters are hedging their bets and communicating their candidate of choice.
Political scientist and talk show host Dr. David Hinds, appearing on Mark Benschop ‘Straight Up’ last Friday, weighed in on the contest. Hinds said challenging leadership is always a good thing. According to the political scientist, he has watched Forde over the years, including his political growth, and made known he should be taken seriously as a candidate.