by Linda Straker
- National Democratic Congress will not hold convention in March
- Joseph Andall has been acting in the position since Nazim Burke’s resignation
- Burke advised the party must approach its review status dispassionately, with openness, honesty and candour
Randal Robinson, Public Relations Officer for the National Democratic Congress has confirmed that the political party will not be holding a convention during March, as recommended by Nazim Burke when he announced his resignation as political leader in July 2018.
“We will not be having a convention but instead will be holding a general council,” said Robinson. The venue, date and time are yet to be disclosed. “One thing is sure is that General Council will happen in March and later in the year we will hold a convention where the new leader will be elected by our members,” he said.
Addressing the NDC’s General Council in July 2018, Burke in his final speech as political leader advised that the party must approach its review status dispassionately, with openness, honesty and candour. “We must do so recognising that we cannot continue to do the same old things in the same old way and expect different results. We must see this as an opportunity to do things in a different and more effective way,” he said.
He further recommended that Deputy Political Leader, Joseph Andall be appointed Interim Political Leader of the party and be assigned the responsibility to prepare the party for a Leadership Convention which, should not take place before March 2019. Andall has been acting in the position since Burke’s resignation.
In his address to the delegates at the General Council which was held at the Trade Centre, Burke suggested that in preparing for the convention, members should not rush to hasty decisions simply to be able to say that we have a leader.
“Settling on the right person, one willing and able to get the job done, may take some time. But it is extremely important that we get this right,” Burke said. He reminded delegates that leadership is not a walk in the park as it often requires managing under conditions of rapid change, conflict, chaos and uncertainty.
