FRESH after dominating the other parties at the just concluded Local Government Elections, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice branch is gearing up to rally its base for 2020 and has elected a new chairman and executive to manage its affairs.

Parliamentarian Jermaine Figueira was elected chairman when the party held its biannual conference on Saturday in Linden.

Figueira has taken over from the now deceased PNCR stalwart Sandra Adams who was elected in 2016. Mr Deron Adams served in the interim as chairman since Adams’ death. Figueira will be assisted by his newly elected deputy and community activist Bernita Primo. The following persons were elected to the other executive positions: Regional Secretary, Leslie Gonsalves; Regional Treasurer, Charles Sampson; Regional Secretary/Treasurer, Waneka Arrindell; Regional Representative to CEC, Jermaine Figueira and members of Regional Committee, Gordon Callender, Fern McKoy and Hugh Stephens. As the party prepares itself for 2020 general and regional elections the new executive committee is now tasked with the responsibility of steering the party’s comrades and the people of Linden into the campaign mode. Region 10 is the heartland of the PNCR.

Meanwhile, the newly elected chairman described the elections as free and fair and noted that it highlights the high level of democracy that is practised by the PNCR. He expressed gratitude to all the comrades who expressed their confidence in him to serve in the role in which he promises to do without fear or favour, diligently and selflessly, traits that he believes have been portrayed in his several community and charitable ventures across the region. “The delegates would have seen my efforts, my contributions and my desire to see our people and community do better; and I am happy that they have elected me to this office and they will not regret it, those in Region 10 and the Central Executive of the PNCR.”

Since the reintroduction of the regional conference, the PNCR has made many strides in the mining town and most evident of this was the refurbishing of its party office, thus transforming it into a modern edifice. The party has also increased its membership within the communities and has consolidated and strengthened its base amongst youths.