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THE PNCR CANNOT BE CHANGED FROM WITHIN

May 13, 2009 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

Dr. Richard Van West Charles is making the same mistake that Vincent Alexander made in his bid to contest the leadership of the PNCR. The former Minister of Health under the Forbes Burnham administration is resting his candidacy on the will of the membership of the party.
This is a false hope which presumes that the party structure and internal politics allow for the democratic expression. This is far from so.
There are many, for example, who believe that internal democracy was far from at work when Team Alexander attempted to contest for position on the Central Executive of the party.
Dr. Charles has clearly indicated that he does not wish to be anointed as leader but would rather such a mandate come from the will of the people. Well, how is this will going to emerge from within the party considering what happened to Team Alexander in the run up, during and after that unit made its bid?
Was democracy at work when there was an increase in membership of certain party groups just after Team Alexander announced its challenge?
Was democracy at work when Vincent Alexander entered the hall of Congress Place and got an extremely lukewarm reception in sharp contrast to the dancing and celebration which took place when the leader entered the arena?
Was it democracy at work when members of Team Alexander were criticised for simply indicating that they wished to canvass the membership of the party in order to secure support for their members who planned to contests for positions during the last Congress?
Was it democracy at work when the Congress itself proposed disciplinary action against some members of Team Alexander?
Dr. Richard Van West Charles is therefore engaging in an exercise in futility if he believes that the support of members of the party can gain him a foothold in the leadership of the party.
The only chance that Dr. Richard Van West Charles has of entering into the leadership core of the party is if the existing leadership so desires because it is this leadership that is the most influential force within the party and not the membership.
On the other hand, if Mr. Charles wishes to contest for leadership, then his chances of securing that post is as remote as the Sahara Desert.
The only chance Mr. Charles has of leading the PNCR is if he is endorsed by the current leader. Mr. Charles will require an endorsement from the incumbent leader if he hopes to become the leader of the PNCR.
This much however can also be said: Mr. Charles has a better chance of becoming leader of the PNCR rather than he has of changing the institutional culture of the party.
The PNCR cannot be reformed from within. The old culture has to be allowed to wither away before a renewal can take place. And this is not likely to happen through mere administrative or technological change.
Even much more difficult is for the PNCR to win elections in Guyana. All opposition parties have had it difficult in this country. Opposition parties have always faced tremendous challenges and have tended to diminish in their standing when in opposition.Opposition parties for example often find it difficult when in opposition to gain financial support. Many of those who flock to them while they are in power often have little to them when they are in power.
This is one of the reasons why opposition parties often seem weak. They are so perceived because they are no longer the magnets they were when they held State power.
The PNCR has been out of power for almost seventeen years. During that period they have lost four consecutive elections. The PPP when it was in opposition was cheated rather than defeated and this kept them going because they and their supporters knew that they commanded the majority support of the electorate.
The PNCR has also had its internal problems. It is therefore facing a Herculean task in seeking to regain lost ground. If Robert Corbin could not change the electoral fortunes of the PNCR, I doubt whether any other person, including Dr. Richard Van West Charles can.

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