Latest update February 23rd, 2025 1:40 PM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

A big feature of political life is image

Jan 25, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,

The People’s National Congress-Reform (PNCR), the main opposition party in Guyana, seems to be coming under fire from a group of concerned Guyanese who are determined to see a political party of vision, drive, transparency, political will and astute leadership run against the ruthless elected dictatorship at the next general elections.

I believe this was the intention of many serious thinking Guyanese who looked at the present opposition composition in Guyana and realised that unless there exists a force within the opposition that can call the government of the day on its transgressions and also take condign action against it, then the title of opposition would only mean “those who sit on the opposite side of the Government in Parliament.”

An opposition that is impotent is useless!

The PNCR has within it some distinguished ladies and gentlemen who are well educated, well respected, credible and who all have enormous political experience – some as part of the former government and others as opposition members. This party, however, with its impressive resume of highly esteemed members somehow manages to choose a person to perform the role of leader who is uninspiring to say the least.

While Robert Corbin is one of the stalwarts of the PNCR, one who has a wealth of knowledge and experience as a politician, and one who held public office, he is just not a good political leader. I am very certain that Mr. Corbin can find excellent ways of serving this party and contributing meaningfully in other areas within its leadership. But as leader of the PNCR, I strongly believe he is a major obstacle to the sustained onward solidarity and progress of the party.

A big feature of political life is image. If a leader or ultimately a party has a poor image, then it impacts negatively on everything that surrounds the party’s work. I have said it before that the PNC needs to clean up its image and prepare seriously for Election 2011 if it intends to win.

And part of that process is the electing of a person with an exemplary character, who is enthusiastic, confident, well respected, and credible to be its leader. Such a person should have already been at the helm of the party preparing its senior and junior ranks and its many supporters and undecided citizens for the major challenge of winning the next general election.

The PNCR lost a golden opportunity in not electing Mr. Winston Murray as its leader. I strongly believe that had Mr. Murray been at the helm of the party’s leadership he would have been the key architect in consolidating unity within the party and constructing a comprehensive strategy for contesting Election 2011.

The Alliance for Change (AFC) is a new political outfit. It contested the last election and was able to get its feet into Parliament. Since then this political party has flexed its little muscles against the Goliath of elected dictatorship in strategic ways as an opposition party ought to do when it’s on the other side of power.

The AFC might not have as many members and supporters like the PNCR, but it members and supporters have certainly grown over the years since 2006. It is a viable force within the opposition that should not be discounted.

The PNCR is deeply divided. And a large part of its division is because of its leadership. The disillusionment that many senior members of the PNCR faces is because the party seems to be going nowhere under its current leadership.

This is a serious question for all Guyanese committed to the fight against elected dictatorship in Guyana. Do you see yourself fighting to end elected dictatorship by supporting the election of Robert Corbin as President?

Richard Francois

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 14th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

The Battle for Barbados: One Guyana Racing Stable faces off against top U.S. Trainers for Gold Cup supremacy

The Battle for Barbados: One Guyana Racing Stable faces off against...

Feb 23, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- The battle lines are drawn. One Guyana Racing Stable is here to make history. With the post positions set for the 2025 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, all eyes are on Guyana’s rising...
Read More
Tyrrell breaks 12-year-old school record to claim SUNYAC-AMCC title

Tyrrell breaks 12-year-old school record to claim...

Feb 23, 2025

Raja Pooran inspires Everest Masters to victory in Costa Rica

Raja Pooran inspires Everest Masters to victory...

Feb 23, 2025

BCB saddened at the passing of the late Lennox Phillips, extends condolences

BCB saddened at the passing of the late Lennox...

Feb 23, 2025

Berbice Cricket Board names 15-man squad to participate in Inter County U15 cricket competition

Berbice Cricket Board names 15-man squad to...

Feb 23, 2025

 Slingerz FC shines at Guyana Energy Conference and Youth Forum

 Slingerz FC shines at Guyana Energy Conference...

Feb 22, 2025

Features/Columnists

  • Crowds, chaos and complaints

    Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The folly of the cash grant distribution is a textbook case of what happens when a government,... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]