Volda Lawrence is new PNC/R Chair

By Bibi Khatoon

Long-standing party member, Volda Lawrence late Sunday night emerged the winner in the much-anticipated elections for the Chair of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R)—the second highest position in the party.

The PNC/R is the largest party which makes up the current coalition Government.

News Room was reliably informed that she received a total of 346 votes and is the first female to take up such a position in the PNCR.

The new Vice Chairs are George Norton, who received 242 votes and Annette Ferguson who received 260.

Lawrence, who is Guyana’s Minister of Public Health was up against the former Chairman, Basil Williams who received a total of183 votes and party stalwart, Joseph Harmon, who received 287 votes at the elections.

Williams is currently the country’s Attorney General while Harmon serves as the Minister of State.

The race was a close one between Lawrence and Harmon and according to Party sources, at the halfway count, it was clear that Williams was out of the race.

A total of 829 votes were cast.

The elections were held at the PNC/R 20th Biennial Delegates Congress which concluded on Sunday at the party’s headquarters at Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

President David Granger was unchallenged as Leader of the PNC/R.

During an interview with the media on Wednesday last, Lawrence said she is looking forward to seeing more discussions on youths and how they can be assisted to make a greater contribution to the party. She also met with various youth groups across the country during her campaign for the post.

The Public Health Minister campaigned under the slogan “Transformational Leadership- Loyalty, Integrity, Discipline, Youth, Women; Returning the PNC/R to the people.”

During his opening speech on Friday, Granger noted that this year’s congress “arguably, will be the last Congress before local government elections in 2018 and before the general and regional elections in 2020.”

He, therefore, called on members to “energize the party” for success at these polls.