The PNCR remains the most progressive political party in current day Guyana

Jul 24, 2012 Letters

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Dear Editor,
It is pellucid that activities of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) have always attracted much public attention and opinion from the wider Guyanese society and further afield. This reality, I believe, is owing to the fact that the PNCR has always projected itself as a truly national political institution with broad support from the people for its single mission of putting country and people first.
As such, the party over the years has taken on many bold and sometimes, unpopular initiatives, which often have occasioned much public debate. This, for the PNCR, and the wider Guyanese society, is a positive since the party’s actions often engender public conversation on many issues germane to the development of democracy and social and political changes in our nation. Simply put, the actions of the PNCR often pave the way for helpful national dialogue on many issues.
It is also fair to argue that there were those instances when actions of the PNCR were not necessarily perceived as positive, however, the facts will indicate that those perceived negatives have not, at any time, caused the party to abandon its mission and relax on its fundamental principle of putting the country and people of Guyana first. In fact, the PNCR’s mission, to work to ensure that the people of Guyana get a government of national unity have never been overshadowed, even during the most difficult period in the life of the party.
Looking back, therefore, it would be recognized that each of the three leaders the party has had, so far, can be credited with taking progressive steps to aid the party’s evolution into, what can arguably be described as, a modern day political entity focused on meeting the challenges of present day society.
During the early years of his leadership, the PNC’s Founder Leader L.F.S Burnham, having assessed the local political and social realities of Guyana, recognized the need for a government of national unity. As such, history will inform us that he was engaged in many discussions with his political counterpart, Cheddi Jagan, to work towards the realization of such a government. The last of such engagements, I believe, were still in play in 1985 when President Burnham passed away suddenly.
Those knowledgeable of these specific facts of our history may tell us of precise date and names of plenipotentiaries identified by both parties to engage in these talks. They may also proffer reasons they believe were responsible for the failure of these attempts. My information on the early failed attempt at the formation of a government of national unity, however, was that while both Jagan and Burnham agreed that such a government was needed for the young nation, their disagreement was hinged primarily on which of the two should lead such a government. However, the jury might still be out on this! What we know, however, is that the mission of the PNC to work with others for the good of the nation was established. We noted that specific action again was undertaken when Burnham occasioned a coalition with D’Aguiar’s United Force (U.F) in 1964 to form a coalition government. Some may advance various reasons for this coalition, but the fact is that the PNC had again established that it will work with any who share that common objective, of country and people first.
Desmond Hoyte, who succeeded Mr. Burnham as president and subsequently elected PNC leader, has also made his own important marks with respect to putting country first. He made several statements in support of shared-governance; a system where major stakeholders in the political arena come together to form a national government. In one of his infamous Congress speeches, he announced that “shared governance is an idea whose time has come…” Continuing in the mission to revolutionize the party, Hoyte, in an unorthodox move, took a decision to lead the PNC in a direction which resulted in a name change. He piloted a grouping of civic minded Guyanese, who shared a common interest of putting Guyana first to join ranks with the PNC in order to fulfill the broader national objectives. This grouping of individuals, called the ‘Reform’ component became an integral part of the PNC and helped to induce the name change from PNC to PNCR, a name which remains today. Of course there are some who share different views concerning the pros or cons of this arrangement and name change. Regardless of the views, however, the point is the PNC has demonstrated that it is not afraid to take bold steps to meet the challenges and realities of the changing nature of the political environment, more importantly it continues to demonstrate its belief that the people and country are paramount to partisan politics.
In December, 2002 after Mr. Hoyte’s sudden demise, the party was again called to demonstrate leadership in the national body politic. Mr. Robert Corbin was elected at a special congress as party leader.
Robert Corbin, an ardent believer in shared governance and one of the party’s strongest advocates for such a system took a drastic decision in 2001 to go to the national polls as a united opposition with like-minded political entities and civic groupings.
Despite the fact, that prior to the elections, there were many defectors from the arrangement, the party nevertheless went to the polls under a new name and with a new platform. PNCR-1G (One Guyana) was the name on the ballot paper in that election. The 1G segment consisted of those parties and entities which stayed the course in the collective arrangement.
Again, the decision to put country first was emphasized and yes, like the steps taken before there are many critics who would have commented on the merits and demerits of the one Guyana arrangement. But once again the principle of putting country and people first was emphasized.
So today, the political entity A Partnership of National Unity (APNU) is a result of this unorthodox coalition.
The APNU has now come to form the major parliamentary opposition force from which the opposition leader was named. While there are those who continue to pontificate and offer their personal views on whether or not the APNU weakens the PNCR or whether the PNCR is in fact the APNU I say whatever your conclusion, the most important thing that stands out from this positive development is the fact that the PNCR continues to evolve and remains the most progressive political party in current day Guyana.
Lurlene Nestor

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