COP election set for August 20

The three candidates are: Dr Sharon Gopaul- McNicol, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan and Nicole Dyer-Griffith.

In a media statement, following a general membership meeting at the party’s Charlieville headquarters on Sunday, outgoing political leader Dr Anirudh Mahabir stated members had engaged in full and exhaustive discussion of the issues raised in the pre-action protocol letter which questioned Dyer-Griffith’s candidacy.

“The meeting also decided by a margin of 2 to 1, that the election will proceed with all three candidates as contenders for the top post of leader of Congress of the People,” the release stated.

General secretary Clyde Weatherhead, when contacted, seemed unsure whether legal action was still possible following the general membership meeting saying the member who sent the (pre action) letter, had attended the meeting and voiced his concerns.

“That meeting was to resolve issues and that’s what we felt happened,” Weatherhead said. Asked whether the member was no longer threatening legal action, Weatherhead said: “I don’t know. He was there, he spoke and he voted and all of that so I don’t know but I would hope not.” Weatherhead reiterated that the party was prepared to hold the election on July 9, but had been forced to reschedule due to the challenge of Dyer-Griffith’s candidacy.

The media statement also noted that all members acknowledged the importance of the election for the rebuilding process and future of the Congress of the People as a political party representing an alternative to the entrenched traditional parties.

Members were also reminded that once their membership was verified and approved, they would be entitled to vote on August 20, for the next political leader of the party.