…says answers will be given within party structure

MINISTER of Public Health and Vice Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNRC), Volda Lawrence has said that she will be prepared to answer any questions during meetings with members and even supporters of the party.

Lawrence made the comment in response to Attorney General, Basil Williams who called for contenders for the post of chairman of the party to show their track record.
Williams who is the current chairman of PNCR had said contenders for his post should lay bare their body of work on behalf of the party, even as he called for an internal debate by candidates before the membership. “Once you are a member of the PNCR you will have the opportunity to have an encounter with me; within the structure the answers will be given,” said Lawrence in an invited comment.

During a recent interview with reporters Williams said: “What I would want is for the members of [the] PNC to be afforded an opportunity to hear a debate from all of the candidates. People must come and tell the membership why they want people to vote for them.” He said his track record is well known and as such, anybody “who wants to challenge me must show their track record.” “That is all I am saying,” he stated emphatically. Williams noted that the members of his party are intelligent people and as such would judge on the basis of track records.

The PNC chairman made it clear that his legal victories are well known and as such, there is no surprise when it comes to his service to Guyana. He pointed out his many pro bono undertakings as an attorney for the party. “I have always had victories; y’all know me. I am known you know. You know my work. I work two years without pay in the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI), without pay in the Linden CoI, Globe Trust customers’ case; I worked for Benschop [treason accused Mark Benschop] for five years. As I keep saying, the PNC people, PNC members are very sensible people, they have proven that over the years,” said Williams, who is a Senior Counsel.

He reminded that neither his party nor its members are in the habit of discussing party affairs in the public domain, something he respects. Nevertheless, the PNC chairman posited that it was the existing executive of the party that was in place when the May 2015 general and regional elections were won by the APNU+AFC coalition. The chairman does not believe that there needs to be a change in the existing executive three years into the new government.

“This current executive took us into office and if he were good to take us into government, why after three years when we are ready to look at the last two years, would you want to change the team. You don’t want to change your winning team. You learn that in cricket and as the Americans would say ‘if it isn’t broken why fix it’.”

Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Lawrence, are challenging Williams for the post of party chairman. She said Williams’ comment had not been raised during the internal discourse of the party but when or if it does she said it will be discussed. Lawrence will be competing against Williams, SC and Harmon when the PNCR Biennial Delegates’ Congress is held in August.

An accountant by profession, Lawrence acquired her Degree in Accounting from the University of Guyana and a Master’s Degree from Gloucester University, England. She is also a Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA Level II). In the party, she is a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC), and heads the Human Services and Welfare Department of the PNCR. Prior to her post as Minister of Public Health, she was the Minister of Social Protection under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government.

Meanwhile, current Vice Chairman Dr. George Norton, who back in 2012 had challenged Williams for the Chairmanship on Monday said he has no interest in the position. On the sidelines of an EU-City Hall event at the Pegasus Hotel, Norton told reporters that he is comfortable with his current post, and hopes to be re-elected to the position. In PNCR’s 2016 National Congress Dr. Norton, and Lawrence the sitting Health Minister were elected Vice-Chairpersons for the party. “I am quite happy where I am,” Dr. Norton told reporters. He said it was his decision to run for the post. “I think the persons who are doing so (contesting) are capable.”

Harmon, a party executive, announced his candidacy on May 21 via a press release and a short video. Lawrence declared her candidacy the last weekend in June. During Congress scheduled to be held from August 17 to 19, party groups will choose their top leaders from a list provided by the party’s secretariat. In the electoral process, persons are placed on the list after nomination and acceptance of such. On the day of Congress, all party members in good financial standing will cast their vote for the candidate of their choice.