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Jagdeo’s statements on opposition infighting utter rubbish — Corbin
President Bharrat Jagdeo
“Utter rubbish!” That was the response of the Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform, Robert Corbin, on Thursday last, when asked to comment on the Head of State’s position on the delay in the shared governance process.
The President, in his first press briefing of the year, had said that it was the PNCR’s infighting which had stymied the shared governance discussions; but, according to Corbin, the call for shared governance has existed ever since the late Desmond Hoyte was at the helm of the party.
He noted, also, that it was the Private Sector Commission that had invited all political parties, several years ago, to discussions on the issue of shared governance.
According to Corbin, shared governance was not just about the two main political parties. Rather, it involved all stakeholders in society.
“We recognize, as a political party, that no one party or group could have a monopoly of ideas.”
As it relates to the lack of trust that exists between the two parties and alluded to by the President, Corbin said that the very lack of trust was the main reason for shared government.
He noted that, regardless of whether the PNCR or PPPC was in power, one section of society would feel alienated. “That is why you need shared governance….We have to bring stakeholders together to discuss what is the most appropriate in order to achieve that institutional change in governance.”
He noted that shared governance would never be built just by building trust. “If there was trust, there might not be a need for shared governance in the first place…It is because of the absence of trust…The lack of confidence…The fact that large sections of our people feel isolated.”
Robert Corbin
Regarding the analogy used by the President that pointed to violence, Corbin said that “(Jagdeo) should seek to avoid confrontation and conflagration, and deal with the problem before it reaches that stage,” meaning that there should be a move towards shared governance.
The President had said that building trust among political leaders should serve as the basis on which any consideration for an inclusive system of governance should be built, to ensure it survives.
He had pointed to the failed attempts at shared governance in Zimbabwe and Kenya, and attributed these to a lack of trust between the different parties.
“If we cannot even convene a meeting in a cordial way to discuss a framework for enhanced governance, how can we go to shared governance?”
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