People's National Congress

People's National Congress Reform
Leader David Arthur Granger
Chairman Basil Williams
Founded 1957 - Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham
Headquarters Congress Place, Sophia, Georgetown Guyana
Ideology Socialism
Seats
22 / 65
Website
www.pncrguyana.com
David Granger as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly 2013

The People's National Congress - Reform is a socialist political party in Guyana led by David A. Granger. The party currently holds 22 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly. In Guyana's ethnically divided political landscape, the PNCR is supported primarily by Afro-Guyanese people.[1]

History

The party was formed following the 1957 general elections by a merger of the Forbes Burnham-led breakaway People's Progressive Party and the United Democratic Party (most of whose support came from Afro-Guyanese urban middle class).[2] In the 1964 elections it won 22 of the 53 seats and despite receiving fewer votes than the PPP, it was able to form the government in coalition with the United Force,[2] with Burnham becoming Prime Minister. It remained in power following suspected fraudulent elections in 1968, 1973, 1980 and 1985,[3] but was defeated by the PPP in the 1992 elections, since which it has remained in opposition. The party narrowly lost the General Election for the first time as Former President Desmond Hoyte became Leader followed by, Robert Corbin in 2002 and later, David Granger in 2011 to the run up of the General Elections as Presidential Candidate. David Granger lost the Presidency to now, President Donald Ramotar of the PPP/C.

Mr. David Granger has also secured the position of Leader of APNU (A Partnership For National Unity), which is a coalition formed by smaller political parties and the PNCR. As a coalition they competed in the 2011 elections and won 26 seats total. The PNCR is the main block of that coalition which was formed in July 2011 by, Guyana Action Party (GAP), National Front Alliance (NFA), Working People's Alliance (WPA) and Justice For All Party (JAP). Mr. Granger further secured the position of, Leader of the Combined Opposition which includes APNU and AFC (Alliance for change).

Arms of the party

The Guyana Youth and Student Movement is the Youth arm of the party.

The National Congress of Women is the Women’s arm of the party.

Making policy

The People’s National Congress’s policy-making process was designed to involve as many members as possible, and support the relationship between the party in the country and the party in Parliament. This paper explains the institutions which drive the policy-making process.

Biennial Congress

The Biennial Congress (BC) is the sovereign body of the party, as it has been throughout the party’s history. Congress debates reports submitted by the Central Executive Committee and resolutions on contemporary issues.

General Council

The General Council (GC) undertakes strategic oversight of the policy development between Congresses. This is chaired by the party chairman and is made up of member of the CEC, MPs, NCW, GYSM and Officers of regional party groups. The General Council meets each quarter.

Central Executive Committee

The People’s National Congress’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) is the governing body of the Party. The Party Leader, Chairman, Vice Chairman and fifteen (15) members of the Executive Committee are elected at the Biennial Congress. The General Secretary is appointed by the Leader, from among the fifteen elected members. Ten members are co-opted to the Central Executive by the Leader and other elected members. In addition each of the Party’s 10 Regions elects a representative to the Central Executive Committee, and the Chairpersons of the Youth and Women arms of their representatives are also Central Executive Committee Members.

Regional Party Organisation

Party Committees are elected annually at the following levels. 1. Regional 4. Neighbourhood 2. Sub Regional 5. Group 3. District

The basic unit of the party is the group, which consists of no less than twelve (12) members. The voice of the party membership on party policies is heard through their interaction at all of these levels, through the year and also at the Annual Conferences.

New Nation The New Nation is a weekly newspaper reflecting the views of the party, which is widely circulated locally and overseas.

Other members of PNCR

  • Ms. Amna Ally
  • Ms. Deborah Backer
  • Mr. Lance Cranberry
  • Mr. Dave Danny
  • Mr. David Pollard
  • Dr. Carl Hanoman
  • Mr. Christopher Jones
  • Mr. Desmond Fernandes
  • Ms. Vanessa Kissoon
  • Ms. Volda Lawrence
  • Mr. Aubrey Norton
  • Dr. George Norton
  • Ms. Clarissa Riehl
  • Mr. Keith Scott
  • Ms. Africo Selman
  • Mr. Anthony Vieira
  • Mr. Mervyn Williams
  • Ms. Jennifer Wade
  • Ms. Cheryl Sampson
  • Mr. Ernest Elliot
  • Ms. Judith David
  • Mrs. Joan Baveghems
  • Dr. John Austin
  • Mr. Oscar Clarke
  • James Anthony Bond
  • Malika Ramsey

References

  1. ↑ "Guyana voters head to polls to choose new government". BBC News. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p. 354. ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  3. ↑ Nohlen, p355

External links