Forde also bows out of race for PNC/R Leader

After weeks of infighting, two persons in the race to become the next leader of the PNC/R suspended their campaigns on Thursday. The first was Amanza Walton Desir who in a video recording cited irregularities in the electoral process. Shortly after, Roysdale Forde announced that he was also pulling out of the race. The announcements come one day before the congress opens at the party’s Congress Place Headquarters.

See below the full statement issued by Roysdale Forde. :

Today, I hereby formally suspend my candidacy and acceptance of all nominations for the positions to which I have been nominated by Party Groups across the Country. My decision is based on the following reasons, which have significantly impacted my confidence in the integrity and fairness of the electoral process:

1.Despite several written communications addressed to the Central Executive Committee and the General Secretary regarding concerns about the integrity of the electoral processes for the party’s elections, I have not received any response.

2. There have been noticeable irregularities concerning the list of delegates, which raise serious concerns about the transparency of the election process.
3. Unreasonable timelines have been imposed to meet certain requirements for holding the congress, which have placed undue pressure and constraints on the democratic process.
4. Members from various regions across the country have expressed dissatisfaction with the extremely limited time provided to organize logistics to attend and effectively participate in the Congress.

Further, my decision is rooted in the fundamental principles of accountability, transparency and democratic governance, which I believe are essential for the integrity of the party’s electoral processes.

On Monday, June 23, 2024, the former General Secretary of the party, Ms. Dawn Hastings- Williams, resigned from that post. Her resignation was influenced by the lack of those very critical issues- transparency, accountability and internal democracy. Her resignation coupled with evidence of irregularities, and the expressed dissatisfaction of members demonstrate that the current electoral process has fallen woefully short of meeting even rudimentary standards necessary to uphold these principles.

Still, it is imperative that our party’s internal elections adhere to the highest standards of democratic practice to ensure fairness and inclusivity. Unfortunately, the deficiencies observed in the process have made it clear that these standards have not been met.

Therefore, after careful thought and consideration and with a heavy heart, I hereby suspend my candidacy for the positions nominated. I thank all the Groups, members and supporters of our Party for their confidence and support they demonstrated in me. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the work, sacrifice and dedication of my team.

I remain committed to the high values, ideals and goals of our party, set in place at its very core and at its very foundation by Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. I will continue to work towards fostering a democratic and inclusive political environment within the PNCR.

I must urge the leadership and all members of the PNCR to reflect on these concerns and take decisive actions to improve our electoral processes moving forward. Our party’s strength lies in our commitment to democratic principles, and it is crucial that we uphold these principles in every aspect of our operations. Long live the PNCR