High up for discussion at the PNC/R Congress commencing today is whether the leader of the party should automatically be the presidential candidate at national elections.
This was disclosed by chairman of the party, Robert Corbin, at the PNC/R's weekly press conference yesterday in answer to a query as to what course the party would take given that incumbent leader, Desmond Hoyte is seeking re-election but had indicated previously that he would step down by his next birthday, which is due in March of next year.
Corbin said anything is possible stemming from the new arrangements introduced since the country embarked upon constitutional reform.
He noted that the reformed Constitution now decrees that a President could only serve two terms, unlike before when it was unlimited.
He said with the changes taking place there is a possibility that the PNC/R may have a leader who will not necessarily be the presidential candidate but emphasised that this is to be discussed at the Congress.
The PNC's three-day 13th Biennial Congress opens this afternoon at the party's headquarters at Congress Place, Sophia.
Apart from the party's leadership, Corbin said Congress will examine the re-organisation of the party, redefine the PNC's relationship with its REFORM arm, and a way forward for Guyana.
He stated that one motion to be discussed at the Congress is the amendment of the party's Constitution to formally look at the name of the party with a view to institutionalising the PNC's relationship with the REFORM wing.
Apart from Hoyte, central executive committee members Raphael Trotman, Vincent Alexander, Corbin, and member of the South Georgetown party group Germaine Vansluytman have been nominated for the post of leader.
Corbin declined his nomination.
Those nominated for the chairmanship are Corbin, Alexander, Trotman and PNC members of parliament, Deborah Backer, James Mc Allister and Murray.
Nominated for the vice-chairmanship are Murray, Alexander, Backer, Trotman, Vansluytman, Corbin, Amna Ally, Artie Ricknauth, Deryck Bernard, B. Ramsaroop, Faith Harding and Ivor Allen.
General Secretary, Oscar Clarke, announced that Murray would not be contesting the post for chairman of the party. Several other persons whom he did not name declined their nominations for the vice-chairmanship.
He disclosed that the other nominees have declared their intention of contesting the posts of leader, chairman and vice- chairman so this meant that each post will have to be declared immediately after polls before a new post is contested.
Clarke predicted the race for seats on the central executive committee would be a tight one given that 80 persons were nominated to contest the 15 seats.
He pointed out that his position as general secretary, though not a directly elected one has to be decided by the central executive committee so his post, too, would be up for grabs.
The party leader appoints the general secretary from the members of the central executive committee elected at the Congress.
"My post is up for grabs. If I don't get elected to the central executive committee I would not be eligible," he said.
Clarke reiterated that only members of the party would be allowed to vote at Congress and this would make members of the REFORM arm of the party ineligible.
He, however, stated that REFORM has been an integral part of the party and this was strengthened by the compact signed between the two sides at the last congress.
He said the members of REFORM are not all members of the PNC but noted that REFORM is represented on the party's central executive committee by two of its leading members. He added that they were not elected but co-opted into the leadership of the party.
The role of REFORM would be examined at the Congress and there is the possibility of changes, he said.
Bernard told reporters yesterday that over 2,000 delegates and observers from the ten regions of Guyana will be participating in the Congress.
He said the opening of the Congress today would focus on Hoyte's address which is expected to analyse the political and economic situation in Guyana and outline his vision of the way the party would prepare to tackle the challenges which lay ahead.
"We anticipate this will be a wide-ranging address which will lay the basis for the policies of the PNC/R as it prepares itself for election to office and the kind of policies and programmes which the PNC/R will implement when this occurs," he said.
Bernard said the general secretary will present his report to the Congress tomorrow on the state of the party, its organs and political work.
"Again, we anticipate that this address will adumbrate necessary reforms and re-organisation of the party structure as it gets ready to take its political struggle to new levels," he stated.
Immediately after the general secretary's report, there will be a panel discussion titled "The Way Forward" which will be based on the analyses and proposals contained in the addresses by the leader and general secretary of the party.
Bernard said from the open discussion, the party will forge a consensus on the way ahead for the PNC/R.
He said it is expected that such issues as the tactics and strategies, ideology and philosophy of the party and its social
and economic policies for the future would be agreed upon.
At the conclusion of the general discussion, the Congress will break into workshops to refine strategies for "The Way Forward".
The party arms - the National Congress of Women and the Youth and Students Movement-will hold their individual Congresses on Sunday in the morning.
The party will also debate questions and motions from party groups around the country.
These include suggestions for party policy plans for the reform of the machinery as well as questions seeking clarification on the party's position on such issues as the suspended dialogue between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Hoyte.
The elections of office bearers for the new biennium will take place on Sunday afternoon.