Mr. Corbin’s 2007 statement informs that in 2009 he would not be in active leadership

Aug 21, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
On Tuesday last Mr. Robert Corbin announced he is contesting the Leadership of the PNC on a Unity Platform. This is a surprise because at the 15th Biennial Congress on 20th June, 2007 Mr. Corbin said he would not be running in 2009.
On the issue of New Leadership at #20 in his Address Mr. Corbin told the Congress: –
“We are fully cognizant that in addition to our plans for improving the physical shape of the party, the human face must also undergo necessary change. Our greatest challenge is to ensure that by our 2009 Congress, the Party must have at every level, fresh and talented young faces representing every shade of Guyana’s life in the leadership of the party at both the local and national levels.
“Of course, experienced heads will still be necessary to give stability and experience and indeed, some leaders are mature in body but young in mind. But the hope of the party is the future and no party will survive if it stifles new talent. We need to be resolute and sincere in this matter or all the work of the past 50 years will come to naught. If the CEC and the General Council look exactly the same as they do now, we would have failed our people and failed the country.
“We must recruit and train new talent, new thinkers, and new workers with energy and perspective. We must also begin early preparation for the 2011 Elections. It will not be won by empty slogans and wild dreams but by hard work and effective organisation. It is my own aspiration not only to have the new team of Leadership cadres identified by the next Congress, but to hand over to them while still around to give the necessary support. “This cadre of highly trained persons must be committed to the task of taking this Party forward, as we retool for the challenges of restoring Guyana to its place of pride and prosperity. They must however demonstrate by work and example that they have the capacity to do so.”
The 2007 statement by Mr. Corbin informs that in 2009 he would not be in active leadership, but will be around to support the new leadership. Should persons now accept Mr. Corbin’s about-turn without an explanation? Further, has Mr. Corbin achieved the leadership objectives he set for the Party and shouldn’t he be judged by it for his re-election bid in 2009?
Recall, over the last two years the Party hemorrhaged young leadership, forced out others, ostracise some, and Mr. Corbin is yet to address the allegation made by a young leader, Mervyn Williams, MP. Now Mr. Corbin stands before a rostrum and tells Guyanese that he is campaigning on a Unity Platform….Shouldn’t Mr. Corbin be specific? His record in the public domain does not show unity of comradeship, Party Principles, or preservation of Burnham and Hoyte’s legacies
The decision to collapse the Congress into two days as against the customary three severally limits Mr. Corbin’s challengers, access to delegates and floor lobbying. If Mr. Corbin is to be re-elected it must be seen that the process was free and fair and free from fear. In this regards we hold those having responsibility for the electoral machinery accountable for ensuring systems are put in place to address grievances, and ensure the purity of the list as was done during the Burnham, Reid and Hoyte’s stewardship. It is also the responsibility and to the integrity of all candidates to ensure the sanitization of the list. The ideals and principles of the Party are sacrosanct. Leaders are not.
Party Member

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