Corbin faction accused of rigging PNCR presidential candidate nomination process.

-New York group protests

One of the New York groups of the main opposition Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) is “vehemently opposed’ to a decision by the North American Group to submit only four of the 10 nominees.

Party General Secretary, Oscar Clarke refused to comment on the issue, saying he does not discuss party business in public.

In a statement issued by Secretary of New York Group No.1, Eustace Hall to several executive members and the media; the group charged that the decision violated the systems and procedures approved by the PNCR’s Central Executive Committee for identifying the presidential candidate.

“A result of the foregoing our group is contemplating swift and decisive actions, one of which is not limited to temporarily suspending contacts on this issue with the region until the matter is fully ventilated and amicably resolved,” Hall said.

He did not elaborate on the options available to his group but it is well-known that the PNCR relies heavily on overseas cash contributions to run its affairs.

Hall explained that the decision to leave out six other persons was “tantamount to the denial of the facilitation of maximum inclusion of party members in the process for the nomination of the presidential candidate.”

The North American Group, which is made up of seven groups, awarded points to the names that it received and eventually decided to submit David Granger (61 points), Faith Harding (39 points), Basil Williams (17 points) and Dr. George Norton (12 points). The other six names that were not submitted were Carl Greenidge and Richard Vanwest Charles with 10 points each and Stanley Ming, Tony Vieria, Hamilton Green and Kads Khan each with single digit points.

Hall told members of the media that he believed that allies of party leader, Robert Corbin orchestrated the submission of four rather than at least six named because they wanted to keep out Greenidge and Vanwest Charles.

“I think it is a deliberate attempt by the Corbin faction to keep those persons out,” Hall said.

The PNCR New York No.1 Group warned that “this partisan behaviour by a few to manipulate and subvert even this not perfect process is troubling and highly reprehensible.

“If not rectified immediately can further disunite the party,” he said. “We urge all members to act on this matter before the situation deteriorates.”