…Lawrence calls on PNCR to embark on a massive membership drive

CHAIRMAN of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence on Saturday told members that it was time that party retool and recharge its base as it heads into the 2020 general elections.

Lawrence was at the time addressing members at the party’s final General Council Meeting of the year at its Sophia, headquarters. In her maiden address to the General Council as chairperson, Lawrence welcomed the participants to the meeting of council and sent best wishes for a speedy recovery of good health, to His Excellency President David Granger, Leader of the PNCR and President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Lawrence said that the PNCR had so much to be proud of especially in the area of local democracy.

She noted that in just three years the coalition government had held two local government elections (LGEs), established four new towns and eight new neighbourhood democratic councils. The chairwoman congratulated all the candidates who participated in the recently concluded LGEs, especially those who have been elected to serve.

During the feature address to the General Council, Lawrence also called on party leaders to re-engage and talk to members and supporters, “… if this means that ministers and party leaders must get out of their offices and work regularly within these communities, we must put programmes in place to make this happen. Service must be people-centered…,” Lawrence declared.

The chairwoman called on the party to embark on a massive membership drive to broaden and strengthen the organisation’s base. She said; “we must be ready to fortify grass-root democracy by playing a greater role in local government countrywide and by providing solutions to rural and agrarian problems. With this, the party must be totally committed to enduring equality for all and to protecting our citizens’ fundamental rights.” The party’s chairperson iterated that the PNCR remains committed to achieving national unity and to improving relations with all communities and groups.

Looking to the future, Lawrence said that now was the time for the PNCR to recharge and retool its base, “… no one must be left behind. Now is not the time for armchair service. Now is the time to work the ground tirelessly and dutifully.” In closing, she called on all ministers of the government and party leaders to recommit themselves to service to the people and promised that the coalition government would continue to work towards delivering a good life to all Guyanese.

Meanwhile, in her report to the General Council, Party General Secretary (GS), Amna Ally brought the council up-to-date on the state of the party and the work of its secretariat over the last quarter. She noted that the period under review was a very active one for the PNCR. In August she said the party hosted its 20th Biennial Delegates Congress and commemorated the 33rd death anniversary of the Founder Leader of the PNCR, Forbes Burnham; in October the Party celebrated its 61st anniversary; campaigned throughout the nation for local government elections and held regional conferences in nine of the ten regions.

The focus of her report was mainly on membership, achievements, local government elections, projections and other related party affairs. A panel discussion was held on Budget 2019. The panelists were: Winston Jordan, Minister of Finance; Volda Lawrence, Minister of Public Health; Ronald Bulkan, Minister of Communities; Dr. George Norton, Minister of Social Cohesion; Dr. Nicolette Henry, Minster of Education; and Annette Ferguson, Minster within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

A plenary followed to discuss the chairman’s remarks, the general secretary’s report and Budget 2019. Reports for the last quarter were presented to General Council by representatives of the National Congress of Women (NCW), Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), North American Region (NAR), Georgetown District of the PNCR and the ten administrative regions. The General Council is the second highest decision-making forum of the PNCR and meets once every quarter.