First female chairman elected

New Chairman of the
National Democratic Congress (NDC),
Senator Franka Bernardine.

By Linda Straker

FORMER civil society activist, Franka Bernardine, who became the Minister for Education for the Tillman Thomas administration following the 2008 General Election, was last Sunday elected to the Chairmanship of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Almost 400 delegates voted for a new executive and at the same time took the decision to expel a number of long-serving executive members and party faithful, who included former General Secretary, Peter David, and Treasurer, Glynis Roberts.

Included in the new executive are former Minister of Government and Leader of the Opposition, Phinsley St. Louis, and Businessman, Kent Joseph, both of whom are two honorary members of the Party.

Political Leader Thomas said that he is now confident that he has a team of persons that will abide by the core values of the Party, which is preparing for General Elections that will be held in 2013. 

The new executive members are:

Sen. Franka Bernardine – Chairman

Kent Joseph – Deputy Chairman

Tillman Thomas – Political Leader

Nazim Burke – Deputy Political Leader

Bernard Isaac – General Secretary

Faye Thompson – Recording Secretary

Asheeda Charles – Assistant Recording Secretary

Elliot Bishop – Labour Relations Officer

Philip Telesford – Treasurer

Shane Ross – Assistant General Secretary (Southern District)

Allie Mathura – Assistant General Secretary (Northern District)

Phillip Alexander – Assistant General Secretary (Eastern District)

Glen Noel – Public Relations Officer

Arley Dowden – Assistant Public Relations Officer

Vincent Roberts – Floor Member

Pauline Andrews – Floor member

Petra Williams – Floor Member

Phinsley St. Louis – Trustee

Aaron Seethal – Trustee

Those expelled were: Peter David, Glynis Roberts, Karl Hood, Joseph Gilbert, Michael Church, Arley Gill, Chester Humphrey, Siddiqui Sylvester and Stanford Simon.