Dr. Van West-Charles backs out
With just hours before the start of the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) 16th Biennial Congress, the race for leadership of party is interestingly poised and expected to create some fireworks, following the announcement yesterday that a former top lieutenant will face the incumbent, Mr Robert Corbin,at the polls.

The hyped-up Congress is being held at the party’s Sophia headquarters.

Former nominee for the top post, Dr Van West Charles, yesterday formally backed out of the race and announced at a news conference in the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel, that former PNCR chairman for over a decade, Mr Winston Shirpal Murray, is that group’s candidate.

Dr Van West Charles was flanked at the head-table by former leader of the Reform faction of the party and reputable businessman Mr Stanley Ming; Mr Meryn Williams, PNCR Member of Parliament; and Ms Monica Hackshaw.

And lending support to Murray from the floor were long-standing PNCR members and parliamentarians, some of whom have had a recent fallout with Corbin. Among those on the floor were Mr Aubrey Norton, Ms Debra Backer, Dr Dalgleish Joseph, and Mr James McAllister.

Dr Van West Charles said the decision to have Murray face the polls follows over two years of discussions between himself and Murray on wide ranging issues, and on a broad vision for the rebuilding and retooling the PNCR to contest the national election due in 2011.

He likened Murray to someone with the requisite credentials to lead the PNCR, having been in Government for a considerable period of time , holding such important portfolios as Minister of Trade and Deputy Prime Minister, and a leading parliamentarian, primarily with the responsibility for economic matters.

Murray, he noted, has over the years demonstrated that he has “an incisive mind, a breadth of vision and a concern for ensuring that all Guyanese can share the benefits of our society.”.

In addition, Murray has been “relentless in the pursuit of political objectives and at all times his integrity has shone through his activities, making him a reliable political colleague.”

Dr Van West Charles further said, “It is my conviction that with him standing as the candidate for Leader of the Party, the forces for change and reorganization stand an excellent chance of prevailing at the forthcoming Congress”.

“There is no doubt that he will institute measures which will re-energise and repackage the Party to respond to the realities of the 21st Century. Our Party must be in a position not only to excite the people of Guyana by a new vision and new hope, but more particularly end this nightmare of a PPP/C Government and placing our country on a new developmental path.

Murray, responding to Dr Van West-Charles remarks and to queries from the media, remarked that he was humbled by the experience, but categorically stated that he was not running against the incumbent, but instead for leadership of the PNCR.

And publicly acknowledging the act of selflessness by Charles in opting to not now run and allow him to do so instead, Murray opined that with him at the helm, the PNCR has a unique opportunity to demonstrate that it is a party of inclusiveness.

He views the issue at hand for the PNCR as wanting to move forward and to chart a new beginning in which the party can look to the future and forget the past.

Reminded that at the last party congress two years ago he had backed Corbin when some members who now openly support him were against the incumbent, Murray said at the time he held the critical position of Chairman of the party and that his duty was to play an objective and constructive role, adding “I had a duty.”.

Ming, who also spoke, said his presence is an indication of “unconditional support “for Murray, with whom he feels he can work “to bring about a change in the political culture of this country, along with victory for all Guyanese.”

He explained, too, that his withdrawal from the PNCR prior to the last elections was because he did not feel that the party then could have impacted in a positive way.

Meanwhile, Van Vest Charles has assured that he would be running for a membership position on the Central Executive of the Party, adding that the considerable political work that has begun in the campaign will continue, as he would be working for change.

He made mention of the additional bright , intelligent and committed young people in the fold of the party who will have to be encouraged, and of the women members who have been the backbone of the PNCR and who will have to be re-invigorated.

Van West Charles reminded of the PNCR being an institution that was driven “by the sap of intellectual creativity flowing in the veins of our young members, particularly the members of the GYSM”

“We must reclaim the ability to win back our young people, “ he declared.

And in a invited comment on the findings by the PNCR that there is no evidence to support allegations by him of “systematic falsification” of the membership register of the party for the elections, he told the Chronicle that the party is yet to make contact with him, despite the announcement by the Convenor of the Party’s Accreditation Committee, Mr Lance Carberry, at a new conference hosted at the PNCR Sophia headquarters .