Solomon’s faction storms out
September 24, 2014 By
Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon
… of PNCR Linden campaign meeting
Disgruntled supporters of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) have been accused of invading a high-level campaign meeting in Linden.
A source close to the PNCR said Campaign Director Winston Felix had convened the meeting at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre with the intention of highlighting the party’s roadmap in the lead-up to General and Regional Elections.
It was pointed out that only key party officials in Region 10 were invited. These included the Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon, former Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo, PNCR Linden Coordinator Sandra Adams and longstanding Valerie Adams Patterson.
However, it was said that though Solomon attended the meeting, he brought along uninvited guests who were “rowdy” during their 15-minute stay before storming out. Recognising that it was Solomon and his “entourage” who were being disruptive, the source said, Felix had a very cordial discussion with him, explaining that it was a high-level meeting that did not cater for regular supporters.
After being told this, Solomon reportedly told the Campaign Director that he had to leave to address pending matters. His entourage comprising approximately 12 persons stormed behind him, disrupting the meeting in the process.
Campaign Director Winston Felix
Before the PNCR’s 18th Biennial Congress at the Party’s Headquarters, Sophia, Solomon and his supporters including Region 10 A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon have been at their wits’ end with the Central Executive Committee of the PNCR over a number of outstanding matters. In the lead-up to the Biennial Congress, Party Leader David Granger took a decision to suspend Kissoon on the grounds of disorderly behaviour and insubordination, but Kissoon had argued that the suspension was unconstitutional. The Disciplinary Committee has since recommended that Kissoon issues a formal apology to the General Secretary Oscar Clarke for assaulting him, but this recommendation has been outrightly rejected by the Region 10 MP.
But the conflict between the Linden faction and the Central Executive Committee widened when during the Biennial Congress, Solomon protested against the alleged disenfranchisement of Lindeners. He alleged that the PNCR’s voters’ list was padded while eligible Lindeners were denied their voting rights in the party.
