FORMER Prime Minister Hamilton Green, who harbours presidential ambitions, is not among the five being considered for the spot by the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) at this year’s general elections. The PNCR old stager, now 76, fancies himself as the man who can give “some backbone” to the party which, for years, has been wracked by intense leadership struggles and he was on the list of presidential candidates.
After he was nominated as a presidential candidate by supporters in Region 10, Green told the Stabroek News, “It shows there is a yearning to give the PNC some backbone.”
Backers of the Georgetown Mayor felt Green was the “most competent” of the candidates, having served the party since 1961.
But that did not go down well with the current PNCR top brass who left Green and other party stalwarts out in the cold. It is understood that Green’s past record and his incompetence during his Mayorship of Georgetown were two reasons for the PNCR’s selections’ committee deciding against him in picking the five that are now in the running.
Among others excluded are Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, former Health Minister and son-in-law of the late PNCR founder-leader and President Forbes Burnham; former TV station owner Anthony Viera, who has migrated to the United States, and PNCR MP Mervyn Williams.
Green was Prime Minister between August 1985 and October 1992.
He became Mayor of Georgetown in 1994 after he split with the then PNC and contested municipal elections with his Good and Green Guyana (GGG) party.
He returned to the fold of his old party several years ago but his political future now looks uncertain, observers said.
The PNCR is to pick its presidential candidate from former Finance Minister Carl Greenidge; former PNCR Minister Dr. Faith Harding; retired Guyana Defence Force Brigadier and National Security Adviser to the late President Desmond Hoyte, David Granger; party Vice-Chairman Basil Williams and senior PNCR member James Bond.