Mr. Hoyte was nominated for the position and yesterday confirmed that he will be contesting the post, General Secretary, Mr. Oscar Clarke told the Chronicle.

PNC/R Central Executive member Mr. Raphael Trotman is also vying for the post.

Hoyte, Trotman, current party Chairman Mr. Robert Corbin, Vice Chairman Mr. Vincent Alexander and Ms. Germaine Vansluytman have been nominated for the post of party leader

Trotman told the Chronicle that he would be contesting the post of party leader as well as the other three posts for which he has been nominated.

He said that even if he is not elected as leader, he is willing to serve the party in whatever capacity the members decide at the Congress.

Trotman has been nominated for the positions of Leader, Chairman, Vice Chairman and Central Executive Committee member.

Apart from Hoyte, Trotman was seen as a front-runner for the post of leader, but he apparently lost some support and reportedly faced inside pressure when he declared that the PNC/R should share equal responsibility for the July 3rd invasion by illegal protesters of the Office of the President which his party distanced itself from.

Hoyte, 72, has led the PNC/R since August 1985, after the death on August 6, 1985 of its founder-leader, former President Forbes Burnham.

The party has lost the three general elections held since October 1992.

Hoyte had indicated earlier that he would vacate the seat of leadership of the PNC/R by his 73rd birthday next March.

Corbin last Friday said he will not be contesting the post of leader, while Alexander said he will give the matter "active consideration".

Contacted yesterday, General Secretary Clarke said that apart from Hoyte, no other confirmation for contesting the post of leader had been received by him.