The saga of the defiant Robert Corbin

Sep 25, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I write to add the latest episode to the continuing political soap opera: The Saga of the Defiant Robert Corbin, in response to a letter written by Sonia Clark: “The PNCR will not accommodate Harry Gill and Mike Persaud’s lawlessness” (Kaieteur News September 22).
It is truly amazing how blind loyalty to one man can produce such an abundance of ignorance. In her letter, Sonia Clark wrote, “The writers started out accusing the PNCR of rigged congressional elections.
When provided with the evidence that Messrs Murray and Corbin accepted the results and the report from Returning Officer, Mr. Harmon, they became confused about what they will argue about now.
So the new argument to continue trashing the PNCR became ‘the rules must be changed.’ When told that changing rules requires being a member and following procedures outlined in the rules to effect such change they are now saying ignore the procedures.”
Let me refresh her memory here: I first wrote about the need for Robert Corbin to step down as Leader of the PNCR because of his incompetence and failure in that capacity. For the records, I have never trashed the PNCR nor have I accused the PNCR of rigging their congressional election.
But if it was rigged, it could not have been done without Corbin’s knowledge and consent. Corbin may be the face of the PNCR, but he’s not the PNCR.
What I’ve said before is that the PNC Administration under Forbes Burnham made a lot of mistakes, though miniscule to the ones being made now by this Administration.
And anyone who disagrees with this is downright dishonest. This is not trashing the PNCR, this is a factual statement. My beef is not with the PNCR whom I believe to be better positioned to form the new Government next year.
It is with a badly tarnished leader with no credibility, who would rather see his party defeated at the polls, rather than allowing the well respected and formidable Winston Murray to unify our people in victory in 2011.
Corbin is not dumb, he’s playing poker with the Guyanese people with a few extra cards in the hole. If the PNCR names another Presidential Candidate and they lose the election, he knows his party will come in a strong second, with him retaining all the lucrative benefits and salary that come with being Leader of the Opposition. Come hell or high water, that’s his security and he’s holding on to it.
Mike Persaud is absolutely right; this is about reform… the ‘R’ behind the PNC, and it must start with failed leadership. Sonia Clark took great pain to lecture me about the role of people as members of society versus members of an organisation.
She explained, “On asking for reform of the Guyana Constitution, Robert Corbin and any member of society can call on the government at any time to make constitutional changes.
This is so because they are members and owners of the society and by virtue of this should have continued vested interest in what’s taking place in society.
A government is the custodian of the state and servant of its people and should respond to the people’s wishes.
The PNCR is an organisation that has members and should there be need for change only they can request the change…..For a change in the Guyana Constitution the members of society, including the political parties, are allowed to utilize different strategies including street protests, votes, letter writing, political representation and other processes to get that change which can ultimately be realised by following some established procedures.
Gill’s reference to Corbin’s actions confirm to what he, Corbin, is allowed to do as a member of society and politician.
Likewise, for the PNCR, any change has to come from its members who too have to follow processes and procedures outlined in the rules.” Is this the best she can do to justify her argument?
Corbin wants to have shared governance, and is pressuring the Jagdeo Administration, who was given a mandate by the people in a free and fair election, to agree to amend the supreme law of this land, to give this loser more political and economic power. Yet, I have to be a member of the PNCR before I can advocate changes to its leadership that would alleviate the sufferings of the Guyanese people? How preposterous!
In the coming election, all Guyanese are stakeholders: We want sound, solid leadership; a government that lives within its means and are accountable to the taxpayers; and a President who is a uniter, not a divider. The PNCR will be depending on non-PNCR members like myself, Mike Persaud and many other, to expose the evils of this Administration, and to encourage Guyanese to vote for change. But if we are denied the opportunity to recommend changes within the PNCR that would greatly enhance the tarnished image they suffer from, then they should expect to be rewarded with only those votes from within the PNCR membership.
All political parties depend on new voters, independents and cross-over voters to give them the majority. In 2006, the PNCR received 50,000 votes less than they did in 2001. As this debate continues, Robert Corbin may well reap the follies of his stubbornness as Khemraj Ramjattan replaces him as the new Leader of the Opposition.
Harry Gill

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