Did Robert Corbin get conned?

May 04, 2010 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

I believe in political and social chat around Guyana. Robert Corbin is discussed with more frequency than President Jagdeo. It would be no exaggeration to say that Robert Corbin is the most talked about figure in this land. It was the same pattern at the TUC’s May Day climax on the lawn of the Critchlow Labour College.
As I walked up to the podium to deliver my sermon, Mr. Corbin was in the front seat. My eyes glanced at a man who looked very unhappy. I would ask Mr. Corbin not to take these words personally. But I mean it when I say that he appeared in my eyes to have an unhappy facial presentation.
After the Critchlow deliveries, my union, the UGWU, normally ends the day at the local government union down the road a few yards from Critchlow Labour College.
Aubrey Norton shared the same table with me. Corbin’s dilemma came up. I asked Norton to explain why Corbin would allow the accelerating diminution of the African political economy when all decent Guyanese, Indians included, will admit that African Guyanese are facing self-effacement.
After a few words, I stopped Norton and asked him not to speak another word. I explained that my analysis is identical and when Norton reads this particular column I wouldn’t want him to think I stole his assessment. So here goes.
I came to the conclusion about six months ago that Mr. Jagdeo conned Mr. Corbin in a highly charged game of charade in such a stunning way that it has left Mr. Corbin strategically empty.
This is how the game was played out. Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP felt the continuation of “mo fyaah/slo fyaah” would have toppled the PPP. Hoyte’s invocation of MacBeth’s witches had devastated the war-room of Freedom House. Fate stepped in and Corbin succeeded as leader of the PNC after Hoyte’s death.
Jagdeo (I don’t think Mr. Jagdeo acted alone) needed a respite and Mr. Corbin needed to re-shape his bad boy image. But Mr. Jagdeo wasn’t aware of this desire of Corbin.
Jagdeo then called in Corbin and asked him to extinguish “mo fyah/slo fyaah” in return for the dream Guyanese had nurtured more than sixty years ago – a PPP/PNC Government.
Mr. Corbin saw his chance to create phenomenal history. He always carried the burden of guilt as a PNC leader, seen by so many as the bad boy of the PNC’s house and the man who has untold baggage. Corbin took the PPP’s leadership at their word.
This was his chance to go into the history books is a huge, really big way. History will never forget Corbin. Guyanese will be forever grateful to this towering Guyanese figure that has redeemed himself by creating a united government.
So the talks began. This was the reincarnation of the 1985 dialogue between Jagan and Burnham to share the government. Corbin would be an empowered Prime Minister and PNC leaders would hold Cabinet portfolios. Robert Corbin was sailing among the stars. He banished MacBeth’s witches and returned to Parliament.
Days grew into months and Mr. Jagdeo was yet to deliver. The explanation was that some PPP stalwarts aren’t buying and have to be persuaded in a protracted way.
Months grew into years. The waiting game wasn’t working in Corbin’s favour. There was to be no power-sharing. A gaping hole emerged in the PNC’s anatomy.
Key PNC decision-makers wanted to return to Macbeth’s witches and put Corbin aside. The plan was to resume PNC’s activism.
Corbin made a deadly and tragic mistake in confronting them. He felt he acted in good faith and should not be toppled.
He decided he would show his challengers who had power. This was the wrong road. Corbin had one choice only and that was to show his grievance by confronting the PPP.
He acted in good faith alright but he lost and it was time to send an SOS to Macbeth’s witches and join a united PNC in the return to “mo fyaah/slo fyaah.” Things felt apart. The PNC infighting got out of control.
Team Alexander had to face a farcical election process. Mr. Corbin’s temperament boiled over. He began to systematically decapitate the essential leaders of the PNC, in other words, he began to dismantle the pillars on which the PNC rested. The PNC could no longer count on numbers. Its supporters were drowning in angst. The rest is now history.
By saying he will not be the PNC’s presidential candidate in 2011, Mr. Corbin is looking for an honourable, elegant exit. He should be given one.

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