Williams drops out of PNCR leadership race
Former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairman Basil Williams has pulled out of the race to be leader of the party.
The party was supposed to hold its 21st Biennial Delegates Congress yesterday but it has been postponed until Saturday, December 18.
In a brief statement yesterday, Williams alluded to previous statements in which he indicated that he would consider whether the circumstances would allow for him to contest. “I have examined all the circumstances and my team and I have decided that we will not engage in the contest at this time,” he added.
In a statement last month indicating his acceptance of the nomination for the post of leader, Williams had said, “It would be my distinct pleasure to serve as your Leader and therefore come the day of elections, I unequivocally ask for your vote.”
Williams, along with current Chairperson Volda Lawrence, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, Dr Richard Van-West Charles, Aubrey Norton, Sharma Solomon and Carl Greenidge have all been nominated to contest to be the party’s leader.
Thus far, Harmon, Norton and Van-West Charles have all launched campaigns. Solomon declined the nomination and threw his support behind Van-West Charles. There has been silence from Lawrence and Greenidge.
The party postponed its congress by one week following a recommendation by its Chief Election Officer, Vincent Alexander, who made the recommendation after an analysis of the systems in place for the congress.
The party has said that its elections will be conducted in two stages, with the results for each stage being declared before moving on to the next. Stage one would see the election of the Leader, Chairman, two Vice-Chairpersons and Treasurer while the second stage is for the election of members to the Central Executive Committee.
With the coronavirus pandemic and its limitation on large gatherings, the PNCR would be hosting simultaneous elections across the country at approved locations.