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The Case of Ms. Vanessa Kissoon, MP
The People’s National Congress Reform wishes to make its position clear on the matter involving Ms. Vanessa Kissoon, MP for over the past three months. There are two main issues. First, is the right of the Party’s General Secretary to enjoy free and unimpeded access to the Party’s property. Second, is the authority of the Central Executive Committee to make non-elected appointments.
This case had its origin in the decision of the Central Executive Committee to appoint a former member of the National Assembly and former Chairperson of the Party’s Upper Demerara-Berbice Region as Coordinator of the very Upper Demerara-Berbice Region where she resides, with effect from 1st April 2014. The General Secretary assigned specific administrative and organizational duties to the Coordinator.
The appointment of the Coordinator was discussed and determined at several meetings and was approved and authorized by a meeting of the Central Executive Committee. Representatives of the Region attended all of these meetings. The Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council was also invited to attend these meetings although he is not an elected Party officer of the Region. It was evident from the outset that certain persons resented the appointment and resisted attempts to allow the Coordinator to be given access to the Party’s office.
The PNCR General Secretary traveled to attend an announced meeting on 26th March at the Party’s Office in Linden. The Chairman of the RDC was present. The General Secretary asked Ms Vanessa Kissoon, MP, for the key for the office. Ms Kissoon, although a Member of the National Assembly, is not an elected Party officer of the Region. He was told that the key was not available at that time although it was clear that the office had been opened.
The PNCR Leader and Chairman traveled to attend an announced meeting on 29th April in Linden. The Chairman of the RDC was present. Members were allowed to freely express their concerns. The Party Chairman attempted to explain the Party’s Constitutional provisions governing the appointment of the Coordinator but some persons disrupted the meeting which had to be terminated.
The PNCR General Secretary finally met Ms Kissoon on 20th June at Congress Place Sophia. He repeated his request for the key to the Party’s property but was rebuffed.
The Party Leader, acting in accordance with the Constitution, directed that the case be examined by the Party’s Disciplinary Committee. He also directed that Ms Kissoon’s membership be suspended until the matter could be determined. The Party’s Central Executive Committee has approved the appointment of the Disciplinary Committee.
