Williams makes pitch at congress for re-election as PNCR Chairman
Incumbent Chairman Basil Williams yesterday made a last minute case for his reelection during his address at the opening of the PNCR’s 20th Biennial Delegates’ Congress, where he urged that “tested… and proven” candidates be elected to the party’s executive tomorrow.
While President David Granger is being returned unopposed as party leader, a three-person race is on among Williams, Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence for the position of Chairman. Those results will be made available tomorrow when the party holds its internal elections.
“Serving the people effectively requires us to work on finding a way to integrate all our communities. It is my hope that integration is not only viewed as an intellectual concept but will be used to bring us all together through all the Regional Groups,” Williams said, as he delivered the Chairman’s address to the over 1,500 attendees at the congress.
“We must be viewed as coordinated, and as a bloc… which we parlay into meaningful projects for our individual communities. Comrades, we must be vigilant and there should be no room for dissension and outside interference and influence in our party structure,” he added to loud applause.
Among guests at yesterday’s opening of the congress, being held under the theme ‘Better Together for Brighter Tomorrow,’ were members of the Diplomatic Community, Guyanese music icon Eddy Grant and members of the Alliance For Change.
The drowning out of the voice of Williams with thunderous applause and screams seemed to be the high point of the opening, as delegates absorbed his every word, interrupting periodically.
Williams, who is also this country’s Attorney General and is seeking a third term as party chairman, did not name any person but told delegates that he has a tried and tested record, that he embraces the grassroots and youth as his own and that he has a solid plan for working with them to achieve the country’s total development.
“Comrades, as we forge ahead let us not lose the common touch but reach out to everyone. I believe we must go back to basics and therefore we must give our energy to reorganizing at the grassroots, especially as we prepare for our local government election in November as well as general elections in 2020. It is because of your ‘grassroots’ activism that we were victorious in 2015,” he said.
“As Chairman, my long-term plan is to put in place a council that would work closely with party chairs throughout the regions to create a “constituent model” to assist in resolving issues that are affecting our grass root communities. Comrades, I believe in the People National Congress Reform. I believe in you, and the work you have done for this party,” he added.
Reflecting on the works of the party’s founding leader, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Williams said that the party was formed through a democratic process where every person was valued, irrespective of their differences.
Resonate
With the knowledge he claimed he gained as Burnham’s protégé during his early days in the party, Williams said that the party can be assured of his commitment to the underprivileged.