Motion to amend PNCR’s constitution for one member- one vote pushed back

Last Updated on Sunday, 27 July 2014, 2:32 by GxMedia

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) on Saturday stalled a constitutional amendment that could see a system of one-member one-vote for the election of top party leaders, a well-placed source said.

The proposed amendment to scrap the delegate system in which one delegate, who represents every 10 group members to attend and vote at a congress, was contained in a report of the Constitutional Review Committee that was presented to the 18^th Biennial Congress that wraps up on Sunday.

Demerara Waves Online News was told that a motion to facilitate the constitutional amendment was referred to the first General Council meeting to be held after Congress. Several other motions were also shifted to that meeting of the Council- the second highest decision-making body in between congresses.

Sources said the one-member one-vote amendment was greeted with calls for the need to ensure that the accompanying systems guarantee an effective system of registration and screening of members countrywide. Under the proposed system, members would be expected to vote in their various groups ahead of the congress.

The old system of delegate voting is still being used at this congress.

None of the motions included any on a no-confidence motion against the Donald Ramotar administration.  The Alliance For Change (AFC) has been threatening the government to table such a motion in the opposition-controlled 65-seat National Assembly.

The PNCR, which is the largest partner in the opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), was expected to discuss the way forward for the vote that would almost certainly result in the President and Cabinet resigning and the holding of fresh general elections within three months.

Meanwhile, Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon on Saturday withdrew from the race for leader of the party. This now means that Aubrey Norton is the lone contender for the top post.

Demerara Waves was told that concerns about the eligibility of several Norton-aligned delegates have been addressed. There are 740 delegates.