– Party says ‘there were no shortage of ideas’
THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Regional Committee of Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), has successfully held their Annual Regional Conference at the party’s Congress Place Auditorium in Sophia. The Conference, held last weekend, was in keeping with the requirements of the PNCR Constitution, and was reportedly  well attended by several hundred delegates and observers from the groups across the Region.
In delivering the feature address to the Conference, Party Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin, MP, reminded the participants that the major challenge facing Guyana was the removal of the dictatorial PPP/C regime.
This, he opined, could not be achieved unless the Party remained fully united and committed to the task, according to a statement from the PNCR.
The statement said he reminded the Conference that there were many with great ideas on how the objectives could be achieved, but it was necessary for careful analysis to be done of all such proposals to ensure their efficacy.
He reminded the conference of the children’s fable, “belling the cat” and opined that the story had much significance in the context of the present situation in Guyana.
“There was no shortage of ideas on what should be done; however, the problem was identifying those who would be fully committed to ensure their implementation,” the PNCR stated.

Corbin also reportedly urged the conference participants to leave the Conference with the resolve of being more doers than talkers, so that the Party could fulfill its obligation to give adequate representation and leadership to the people of Guyana.
The Chairman, Mr. Ernest Elliot, MP, presented the Regional Report to the Conference. This report, along with the Leader’s Address, formed the basis for full and lively discussion during the plenary session.
The PNCR said the elections were held under the supervision of Returning Officer, Trade Unionist and Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Randolph Kirton. Those elected to Office were,

Chairman:                  –      Mr. Clement Corlette,
Vice Chairman:         –       Ms. Genevieve Allen,
Secretary:                –       Ms. Ann Greene
Treasurer:                   –    Mr. Dave Danny, M.P.
Committee Members:    –  Ms. Joan Baveghems
–                                     Mr. Floyd Hendy
–                                    Mr. Heston Bostwick
Regional Representative to the CEC:        –     Ms. Maureen Philadelphia

Party Chairman, Mr. Bishwaishwar (Cammie) Ramsaroop installed the newly elected officers and delivered the Charge to the Conference.
The PNCR said, too, that following an inaccurate report of this conference in the media, the  party was obliged to set the record straight in a Press Release made on Tuesday 25 May, last. In that statement, the PNCR said it rejected the report published in Stabroek News of Monday 24 May 2010, on the Regional Conference as very inaccurate, mischievous and very unprofessional.
The Party emphasized that the Regional Conference was organized by the Regional Committee and monitored by the PNCR Central Executive Committee.
All relevant procedures with respect to the Party’s Constitution were followed and the Elections conducted by an independent Returning Officer and scrutinized by all participants including the candidates who contested the various Offices. At no time during the Conference were any objections made about the procedures adopted and there were also no objections made at the Conference about the outcome of the Elections, the PNCR said.

“The only unsavory occurrence at the conference was an unacceptable incident involving the physical assault on an elderly woman by a GYSM member, Mr. Sherwin Benjamin,” the party stated, adding that the General Secretary of the Party, Mr. Oscar Clarke, who was present, promptly dealt with this matter.
The PNCR said witnesses to the incident were requested by the General Secretary to submit written statements about what transpired and Party investigations have already begun. “The Disciplinary Committee of the Party will expeditiously deal with this matter (which) has also been reported to the Police and criminal action is being pursued,” the PNCR added.

Whatever may be the alleged reasons for the assault, the PNCR considers this behavior as totally unacceptable and inexcusable.

In addition to the immediate investigation launched into the above incident, the Party Leader, using the power vested in him under the constitution, immediately suspended Mr. Sherwin Benjamin as a member of the Party, pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

Addressing the Conference before its conclusion, the Party Leader denounced the incident as shameful, unacceptable and contrary to the well-known policy of the Party of respecting and promoting the rights of all women.
The Peoples National Congress Reform reiterates its policy of being totally and inexcusably against any form of violence and abuse against women in society.