Skip to main content

FM
Former Member
Home > TOP STORY > Congress Place’s gates closed to voters : –PNC/R members complain about ‘rigged’ process
Congress Place’s gates closed to voters : –PNC/R members complain about ‘rigged’ process
Hours of disorder prevailed at the main gates of Congress Place yesterday

Congress Place’s gates closed to voters : –PNC/R members complain about ‘rigged’ process

 

THE massive gates of Congress Place, the Sophia headquarters of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) yesterday were closed to many party members – several of whom were from Region 10 – even as the voting for new leaders was underway.

Party members were peeved, the woman in the striped shirt making clear that she had a legitimate right to attend the PNC/R Congress

Party members were peeved, the woman in the striped shirt making clear that she had a legitimate right to attend the PNC/R Congress

This woman is warned by a security personnel not to attempt to sneak in

This woman is warned by a security personnel not to attempt to sneak in

And the locked-out members raised concerns over what they dubbed a “rigged” process to ensure that the incumbent party leader, Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger, remained in power.
These contentions were also raised before today, as posters expressing this were mounted on utility poles in the vicinity of Congress Place.
Additionally, voting was delayed for several hours due to complaints over the delegates’ list.

TENSIONS ESCALATED
The understandably peeved party members, after more than an hour of standing under the blistering noonday sun, eventually grew rowdy.
Up to earlier this morning, several party members, including contender for the Chairmanship of the party, Mr. Sharma Solomon, were without accreditation to attend the Congress. Persons without any form of accreditation to attend the Congress were not allowed to enter.
The complaint from the party members left outside the gates was that they were being “locked out” to prevent them from voting, as the voting was ongoing even as more and more persons turned up and were denied entry.
Tensions escalated to the point that tempers flared and there were confrontations with several party members and the security personnel, Kalibur Security Service, manning the gates.
One party member, who told the Guyana Chronicle that he was a national candidate for the party in the 2011 elections, was verbally abused by the security personnel, not shy about belting out expletives at him and other party members standing outside the gate.
One of the security personnel said, “You don’t mine me…I have my orders and you cannot come in.”
The party member returned, “When I have been donating US dollars to this party, where you been.” Other party members outside complained, “We are party members who wuk hard for this party when is time to campaign, and now is elections time and we can’t come in.”
Another woman was not as restrained in her responses and at one point held on to the gates and rocked them violently, while she blasted expletives at the security personnel. Eventually she pushed her way in as another member was being allowed in.
Other party members opted to jump down from the entrance bridge and sneak their way via the unfenced left side of the property. Security personnel, however, were soon posted there and only two persons managed to sneak by.
Additionally, several of the persons standing outside were seen on their phones attempting to make contact with officials inside to come and vouch for the legitimacy of their presence at the Congress. However, up to 14:00hours no official was outside.
At one point, embattled party stalwart, Ms. Vanessa Kissoon, was seen at the gate, as was her colleagues, Ms. Annette Ferguson, and Ms. Volda Lawrence. None of the three, however, were able to assist in getting party members past the gate.
During all this time, some persons were seen leaving, without being allowed to vote. Others commented that the ruling party, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), would never close their gates to any person. Another group of party members, who picked up on this sentiment, noted too that the PPP/C was hosting a fun day outside Freedom House and suggested a move be made to that location.
It was only after hours of disorder that one party official came to the gate, and even then only some of those who were still standing outside were allowed in.

ATTEMPT TO FLOOD VOTERS’ LIST

These Amerindians from Annai were also among those who were not allowed in, despite having been present at the opening of Congress last Friday

These Amerindians from Annai were also among those who were not allowed in, despite having been present at the opening of Congress last Friday

Determined to participate in the vote, these party members sneak in

Determined to participate in the vote, these party members sneak in

This party member opts to leave after not being able to enter Congress Place

This party member opts to leave after not being able to enter Congress Place

At a press conference, last evening, Granger charged that confusion at the main gate was as a result of an attempt to “flood” the official voters’ list with names of persons not qualified to vote at the Congress elections.
He contended that a “large number” of persons came down from a “particular region and many of their names were not on the final approved lists; as such, an attempt was being made to flood the lists with persons who were not qualified.
“The vast majority of party members supported the team that was elected today,” the party said.
Additionally, Granger stated that several meetings were held with Mr. Solomon and Mr. Norton to ensure that their concerns were addressed.
“I believe that the majority of people who remained in the hall were given an accurate picture of the opinions and interests of delegates countrywide,” Granger said.
At the same news conference, party Chairman Basil Williams, further explained that there were “administrative difficulties” over the delegate representation for Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice).
“A special effort was made by the leadership of the party and the accreditation committee to resolve all matters of concern. Finally, it was agreed that irrespective of the difficulties concerning the issuing of delegate cards, all accredited delegates from Region 10 and/ or any other region whose names were on the lists would be allowed to vote in the elections,” he said.
The party Chair added that both Mr. Sharma Solomon and Mr. Aubrey Norton were issued with the official list of delegates so as to allow them to “observe and scrutinize” the process.
“Earlier in the day (yesterday) two busloads of persons from Linden arrived at the Congress venue, all claiming to be delegates. During the registration process they were advised that they were no delegate cards for them,” Williams said.
The party Chair pointed out that when the final lists of delegates were approved, there were some 98 persons from Region 10 represented on that list; however, when it came time for the substantial voting process only 43 persons from Region 10 remained in the auditorium.
The PNC/R’s leadership maintains that the chaos at Congress Place’s main gate was as a result of misunderstandings.
Written By Vanessa Narine

 

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×