By Mark DaCosta- The People’s National Congress Islahat (PNCR) has announced its decision to conduct an independent technical audit of a central processing unit (CPU) that went missing from the party’s membership section. The move comes amidst concerns raised by party members and supporters regarding the integrity of the upcoming internal party elections.
Chairman of the PNCR, Shurwayne Holder, stated that the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) convened on Wednesday evening to address the issue surrounding the removal of the CPU from its designated location within Congress Place, the party’s headquarters.
“We fully understand the concerns of our members and supporters, and we wish to reassure them that an investigation has been completed, and no act of venality or rascality has been discovered,” Holder affirmed.
To provide further assurance and transparency, Holder announced that the CEC decided to commission an independent technical audit of the CPU. “A technical audit of the CPU will be conducted by an outside expert within the shortest possible time, and a report will be submitted to the CEC,” he stated.
The decision to conduct the audit follows internal correspondence earlier this month, which revealed concerns raised by CEC member, Retired Rear Admiral Dr Gary Best, regarding the removal of the CPU. Best emphasised the importance of ensuring veri integrity and called for a thorough check to alleviate any doubts.
The CPU in question contains vital membership records, raising concerns about the potential compromise of the party’s internal processes, particularly as the PNCR prepares for its overdue congress scheduled before August 31, 2024.
Controversy surrounding the missing CPU has cast a shadow over the upcoming internal party elections, where incumbent Aubrey Norton and Shadow Attorney General Roysdale Forde S.C. are vying for the position of party leader. The absence of Attorney Amanza Walton-Desir’s confirmation on her candidacy adds further intrigue to the political landscape.
Chairman Holder addressed speculation linking the CPU’s disappearance to the internal party elections, attributing the heightened scrutiny to the congress season. “There is a whole big noise about nothing really,” he asserted, while emphasising that the CPU never left Congress Place.
Meanwhile, the issue has drawn commentary from external sources, with General Secretary of the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo, accusing the PNCR of avoiding fundamental issues. Jagdeo criticised the PNCR’s propensity to call for audits while neglecting underlying principles, suggesting a pattern of electoral misconduct.
Regarding Jagdeo’s remarks, one analyst said that while many Guyanese may say that the internal PNCR issue is none of his business, Jagdeo should be allowed to speak since he is, “The King of avoiding fundamental principles, and the Lord of electoral misconduct.”