The ruling Peoples Progressive Party is heading to Berbice this weekend for one of its most crucial congress in its 50-year history.
One of the high points will be the elections of members of the Central Committee…some 35 of them, with another five as alternates.
This time Around, several longtime faces would be missing from the event, including Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud, Janet Jagan, Moses Nagamootoo and Ralph Ramkarran.

Both Jagan and Persaud have died while Nagamootoo resigned and is now the Vice Chairman of the Opposition Alliance For Change. Ramkarran resigned last year June after falling out over a critical piece on corruption that he wrote in the party’s newspaper, The Mirror.
According to party officials, also most likely not seeking re-election are stalwarts Harripersaud Nokta, Clinton Collymore, Shirley Edwards, Cyril Belgrave, Feroze Mohamed and Philomena Sahoye-Shury.
The developments would essentially leave the door open for a number of young faces to join the Central Committee, observers say.

There are no guarantees of anyone, despite receiving popular votes, finding a place in the Executive Committee, which essentially makes the major decisions.
In the 2008 congress held at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, elected to the Executive Committee were Ali Baksh, Komal Chand, Navin Chandarpal,  Clinton Collymore, Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Dr. Roger Luncheon, Zulfikar Mustapha, Harripersaud Nokta, Reepu Daman Persaud, Robert Persaud, Ulric Ramanah, Ralph Ramkarran, Clement Rohee and Gail Teixeira.
Chandarpal is now reportedly ill.

Colin Croal, brother of Minister Robert Persaud and currently the Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Ministry, along with Nigel Dharamlall, and public relations official, Romel Roopnarine, are reportedly the new faces likely to vie for a place on the Central Committee.
Party insiders widely expect Priya Manickchand, the current Education Minister and daughter of Reepu Persaud, Dr. Vindya Persaud, to also make their bids.
It is unclear whether Bibi Shadick and Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, will be seeking places.

Insiders say that controversial Public Relations Officer, Kwame McCoy, who has been kept in the background recently at the Office of the President, is also reportedly signaling his intentions to be a part of the Central Committee.
The Congress would be an all-important one for the ruling party which wants to regain footing after losing its majority in the National Assembly following the 2011 elections.
The reasons for that loss and the plans for the next three years are all to be discussed during the Congress.
The executives are elected during the Central Committee’s first meeting after the Congress.
At the last Congress, former President Bharrat Jagdeo secured the highest number of votes with 777; followed by Janet Jagan 671; Frank Anthony 658; Ramotar 637 and Nagamootoo 595.
Dr. Roger Luncheon received 588 while Gail Teixeira was 558.
The 30th National Congress is to be held over three days, starting tomorrow, at the J.C Chandisingh Secondary School.

Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2013/08/01/ppps-30th-congressold-stalwarts-out-young-blood-to-vie-for-leadership/