-following protest action, PNCR-Linden advocacy

REGION 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) representative, People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) stalwart and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Ms. Vanessa Kissoon, has been accredited delegate status for the PNCR’s 18th Biennial Congress.Kissoon told the Guyana Chronicle that she was accredited yesterday and was able to attend day two of the three-day Congress.

She was suspended from the party following an alleged altercation with the party’s General Secretary, Mr. Oscar Clarke. A disciplinary committee is reviewing her case, however, Kissoon did not attend the last meeting, which was held last Thursday. Also, the PNCR groups in Linden last Monday in a statement noted that it advised Kissoon not to attend the meeting.
The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the disciplinary committee has concluded its deliberations on Kissoon’s matter, but will have to report to the CEC before its decision is made public. That decision, up to press time, was not released.

LAST-MINUTE ACCREDITATION
Kissoon’s last minute accreditation followed representation from Mr. Sharma Solomon, member of PNCR’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Congress Committee, who wrote to the party’s General Secretary, Mr. Oscar Clarke and stressed Kissoon’s entitlement to be accredited with ‘delegate status’.
In his letter, seen by this newspaper, Solomon said, “Consistent with Rule 15 (2)(d) of the Party Constitution, Ms. Vanessa Kissoon is entitled to delegate status at the 18th Biennial Congress of the People’s National Congress Reform.”
Additionally, the opening of the Congress was marred by a protest, which saw Kissoon, Mr. Aubrey Norton-the contender for the PNCR leadership, and party supporters from Linden – a party stronghold – holding placards that stressed the principles on which the party was founded. The band of protestors were initially not allowed inside Congress Place, but were eventually allowed entry just before incumbent party leader, Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger delivered his address to a gathering of about 400 people.
Save for the small group, who accompanied Kissoon, there were no other representatives from Region 10 at Friday’s opening of the three-day Congress.
Yesterday, the issues to be addressed at the PNCR Congress included: the General Secretary’s report from Mr. Oscar Clarke and the report on the Constitutional Review Committee.
The much anticipated elections for key leadership posts will be held today.

(By Vanessa Narine)