Dear Editor,
A few weeks ago, it was reported in the media that the PNCR has decided to ask me to resign from the parliament and to suspend me from the party for one year. At the time, I had received no missive from the party and therefore decided to await the receipt of the appropriate communication before I respond. To date I have not been contacted in any way by the PNCR to either ask me to resign or to advise me of my purported suspension. Therefore, I am forced to conclude that a release to the media is the PNCR’s preferred way of communicating with me on this matter hence my decision to use the same medium to respond.
It is my understanding that the decision to sanction me flowed from the conclusions of the Disciplinary Committee, which was looking into allegations of misconduct associated with the activities of Team Alexander. Therefore, I wish to comment on the work of this committee.
The disciplinary committee wrote me on three occasions outlining eleven charges of misconduct against me. I never responded to the substance of the charges but I did write informing the committee of my concern over its composition. It was my view that a committee of this nature could not include persons who were actively involved, as opponents to Team Alexander, in the events that led to the charges being laid.
Consequently, I declined to appear before the committee because it was not independent and was merely a surrogate to execute the political agenda of others.
Well, I was right. Apparently, I was reprimanded for the eleven alleged acts of misconduct the committee wrote me about. So then, what is the basis for the committee’s decision that I be suspended and recalled from parliament? The constitution of the PNCR clearly states that a written notice of charges is an integral part of the disciplinary process. For the committee to proceed with charges against me without first informing me in writing is not only in breach of the PNCR’s constitution but is also concrete evidence that the committee was acting in accordance with political directives.
I am aware that a number of persons, including representatives from a certain cultural organization, approached Mr. Corbin to express concern about the disciplinary process and to ask for it to be abandoned. His response was, “… at least Mc Allister.” So then how are you going to sanction just one person when all are charged with basically the same offences? Simple! Find other charges for that one, don’t inform him of the charges, find him guilty and apply the sanctions. So the disciplinary committee’s determination of the truthfulness of allegations that I was never informed of is a clear indication of the committee bending over backwards to ensure Mr. Corbin’s “… at least Mc Allister” objective is achieved.
I have noted the two secret charges and wish to comment as follows:
The General Secretary never wrote asking me to account. He wrote asking me to hand over and I considered his request improper. The party’s constitution clearly states that as a Regional Chairman I could only be removed after an investigation.
Since no such investigation was done then the letter from the General Secretary informing me of my removal from office and asking that I hand over was an abuse of his office. My acquiescence would have made me complicit to an illegal and unconstitutional act.
I have documents to substantiate that the party was properly informed of my absence from the country. The allegations that they were not is just another aspect of the “… at least Mc Allister” policy.
I believe that at this point I should do nothing that can be interpreted as an acceptance of the propriety of secret charges. I therefore will not respond to the publicly announced call for my resignation. Further, I will not exercise my constitutional right to appeal the unconstitutionalities and injustices that will no doubt further tarnish the image of the party.
I am aware that the sanctions against me are as a result of my fundamental differences with Mr. Corbin on the true purpose of the party. I believe that the party exists to serve its supporters and the country.
In order to do that the party must do the best it possibly can at elections and therefore must make all decisions with this objective in mind. I was therefore highly offended when, weeks after our humiliating defeat in the 2006 elections, Mr. Corbin was on the cocktail circuit discussing how he will conduct his 2011 campaign. This was an insult to the forty plus percentage of the population that looks to the PNCR for deliverance from the atrocities of the PPP/C.
I believe that the party must live what it preaches. Therefore if we want to challenge the PPP/C on constitutional issues then what is wrong with us respecting our own little constitution?
I have always fought these issues and will continue to fight them and for me, recall from parliament, one year suspension or even expulsion is a small price to pay when one is battling to ensure the supporters of the PNCR have a hope for the future.
Yours faithfully,
James K Mc Allister
Sorry, Mac, but if this crisis didn’t happen Guyana wouldn’t know what the PNC has become since Hoyte died! Robert Corbin was a great foot soldier for the PNC under Burnham and especially under Hoyte, but when the foot solider got promoted to commander, he floundered pathetically. The guy is the equivalent of Bharrat Jagdeo: he has no vision, is petty and vindictive, and is dictatorial. In fact, they both seem to be taking their cues from Burnham’s autocratic playbook on surviving at the top by smashing opponents hard and early.
I have said numerous times that for the PNC to ask the PPP to open up and share power yet the PNC is itself not amenable to allowing others to share power in its own organization is as hypocritical as they come up in Guyana politicis. And it exposes the PNC to the PPP and all Guyanese as a party that is prepared to do anything to get power and will do anything to keep it.
The PNC needs to reinvent itself as a party that revolves around ideas and not personalities. The personality prancing around ended when Burnham died, and was buried with Hoyte. No one looks up to Corbin! NO ONE! Not even his own shadow!
Andy:::did you ever called for shared-power when pnc was in power illegally???If so can you tell us when…….
I have no sympathy for Mac. When one is placed before the court the don’t get to decide which judge or jury should try them. “The disciplinary committee wrote me on three occasions outlining eleven charges of misconduct against me. I never responded to the substance of the charges but I did write informing the committee of my concern over its composition. It was my view that a committee of this nature could not include persons who were actively involved, as opponents to Team Alexander, in the events that led to the charges being laid.” WHY NOT? You are in no position to decide same.
You were AWOL for over a period, and as a parlimentarian, you should have been attending the peoples’ (your constituent) business. Instead, you claimed it was a personal vendetta against you by Corbin. Now, tell me what makes you better or different by ignoring the request of the GS and the disciplinary committee?
Are you saying that the committee did no investigation? What about if you had assisted them?
Are we that forgetful. Please don’t forget that the great Desmond Desmond Hoyte rigged the election in 1985 after Burnam’s death and was at the heilm as the country continued to spiral downward – NO Housing Ministry, poor roads, 18hr daily blackouts in georgetown I don’t even know what happended in country areas and a barge to provide electricity. I think the great PNC got about 75% of the seats in parliament in 1985 election. This form of dictator ship must never ever be forgotten. While the PP has provided some of the basic infrastrucutre whiuch is our right, they too have failed. They do however have the people’s support i.e they DO NOT HAVE TO RIG AN ELECTION TO REMAIN IN POWER.
PS the barge never ever provided a single day of power to us. I studied under a lantern. Thank god educatiuon was my way out of the Country’s sorry mess. Thanks daddy
In the wake of all the crisis that is now facing Guyana, including treats of invasion, provocation and aggression from neighbours, especially from Suriname, all hands must now be on deck.
The ruling government, all opposition political parties, local and foriegn citizens must now more than ever or ever before come together as a “UNITED-FRONT GUYANESE NATION”, aiming to protect the sole integrity of our country. Diplomacy, is urgent needed in the advent of our sole survival.
The past, is the past, we must now look and move forward as one GUYANESE-nation.
A unified Guyana, is urgently needed !!!
This is a joke to me and to those People from Region #3 of which James Mc Allister was Chairman. The people of that Region will tell the true story of James Mc Allister- his work, his vision, his leadership, non-cooperation and non-leadership in Region 3
The PNCR Party was given a directive at the highest forum to take action against Mr McAllister not Mr Corbin nor the General Secretary of the PNCR. As a matter of fact the same Leader Mr Corbin of the PNCR that you are so bitter about went against his better judgement and save you James MC ALLISTER when the people of Region #3 speak out against you. Mr Corbin calm down the people and asked to gave you another chance and another chance. This would have never happened with Burnham. And you speak of Corbin?
For Mr Mc Allister to speak of 2006 Election he should be ashamed – to put blame on others – start with your self what have you done or did to win the Election? Or the bigger question to you Mr Mc Allister you deliberately did not work so that Corbin did not get the spot light. You should be ashamed while many like yourself trying to destroy Mr Corbin’s image you are destroying the PNC and the Party in the process.
Mr Mc Allister speaking of the General Secretary abuse of his Office – Many of you who speaking of Burnham and his Leadership – Then, just as a reminder Mr Mc Allister Burnham would have dealt you in such a way that you yourself would have not been able to think of writing such letter. Did you recall the Agriculture project in Sophia? The Founder Leader given people like you and others assignment and fail. MONKEY KNOW WHICH LIMB TO JUMP ON.
Well said Comrade Birds, all of us are from region #3 and we all
know how lazy this man are.
Desmond Hoyte maners Hammy Green and Aubrey Norton, two work
horse men with vision and leadership.
This man, Mc Allister is a lameduck to the PNC party, we
from region 3 know this, Corbin made a big mistake by
making you an PM.
I think that you are looking for sympathy Mc Allister, I
have “NONE” to offer you James, goodby.
Birds, I am someone from Region 3 who want to tell the true story about James Mc Allister. James Mc Alister was the first person in Region 3 to contest for the position of Party Regional Chairaman without the blessings of the Party Leader. The fact that he won and held the position for 9 years must be an indicationof something special.
I have followed James Mc Allister on TV and in parliament. It is clear that he has more vision that Corbin. Birds, tell me what is Corbin’s vision for Guyana. At least Mc Allister broke ranks with his party and made a submission for Shared Governance to the Constitutional Reform Commission. The fact that the PNCR has finally come around to a position that this same James Mc Allister was ostracised for is a glaring example of his vision. What is Corbins’s vision.
Birds, you make Corbin sound like Saddam Hussein. “The People spoke out against Mc Allister and Corbin saved him?” Was Corbin undermining democracy? Stupid question. PNCR last congress shows that Corbin does not even know what is democracy. However, the truth is that Mc Allister was elected PNCR regional chairman in 2007 and he was removed unconstitutionaly in 2007 and over this period Mr Mc Allister was re-elected on at least five occasions. I challange birds to name one PNCR regional official who faced the electoral more often that Mc Allister during the period 2000 to 2007. Well, maybe, Ivor Allen, but who else? So what is this nonsense about Corbin saving Mc Allister. What are you suggesting Birds? Are you saying that in the PNCR once Corbin supporters speak out against an elected official Corbin has the right to remove him? This is clear dictatorship in the PNCR.
Birds, based on what you are saying we must make Mc Allister the leader of thePNCR. If Mc Allister alone can rob Corbin of the spotlight and victory at the polls maybe if we put Mc Alister he will do for himself what he did not do for Corbin. Birds, do you know that Corbin lost groud in every region and that the greatest lost was in region 10, the region that Corbin is from. Are you blaming Mc Alliste for Corbin’s disaster in Region 10. And while you are at it you may want to check he results of the elections in Region 3 for 1997, 2001 and 2006. You will see that in 2001 Mc Allister lost no seats and in 2001 he lost one. check all the other regions and find out how many they lost. With the exceptionof Region No. 5 no PNCR Region performed better that Region No.3, Mr. Mc Allister’s region, in 2006.
I content that James Mc Allister is the best Regional Chairman we have ever had. At least right now we have none.
And Birds, please dont compareCorbin to Burnham, is like cheese to chalk.
Mr. Mc Allister! Politics is a ruthless, cutthroat business. The PNC has moved on with regards to you and, apparently, so have other members of the Party. I would advise you to do the same. Stop crying. You sound pathetic.
Goergie! Read the letter and make some informed comments. Come on! You can do better than this pathetic babble.
i am sorry to inform you Mac but the pnc doesn’t care if it breeches its own constitution or the guyana constituion. you have been in the party a long time and should know that.
Mr Mc Allister, my objective observation from afar, is that you are pretending to claim DISCOVERY now, when in fact, you have been living the said PNC REALITIES especially when they suited your interest. Bannas, it’s very hard to garner any sympathy in these types of conflict.
However, this doesn’t distract from the conclusion that Corbin and the PNCR are rudderless and without progressive political scholarship for CHANGE in the 21st century. Today the PNC needs serious outside help if this organization is to survive in the public service arena much longer.
The PNC died with Burnham and the PPP died with Jagan.
Jagan and Burnham were the only two politicians who were capable of moving this country forward.
The AFC must also not be trusted because it is a grouping of people who served under the PPP and PNC.
Guyana is no longer a place for decent people. Decent people of Guyana m ust get up and get out.
A time will come when the Brazilians will become the majority and form their own government.
I dont agree with u ally
Mohamed I. Ally::::BUrnham moved the country forward alright:::he moved it from fuss to woss in de western hemisphere financially….try again…..ehehehhee
Man. Mohammed, you got me scratching me head hey. I agree with your first three statements.
Not certain about your fourth. I believe that the remaining decent ones are paralysed by FEAR or are just plain cowards.
As for Brazilians taking over well, I think INTEGRATING, might be the better way to go. The two main ethnic groups shld each marry a Brazilian of mixed ancestry so then we all become ONE BIG HAPPY family and no more coolieman this or blackman that
solomon justice.
to understand how organisation work we must be or had position of resonsibility.
word like priority,funding,skills,repayment,or profitability become commmon words.
I have been a supporter of the PNCR living in Region# 3. I have worked with Mac in that Region and I can say without fear of contradiction that he was one of the most effective chairman the region has ever had and he has worker tirelessly for the party in that region.
Robert Corbin because of his own petty attitude, cronism and personality issue undemocratically purported to remove mac as chairman of the region; He proceeded to ensure that mervin williams was elected (this is someone who over the years could not even get enough votes to secure a place as a committee member on the regional committee) much less to be chairman.
What has happened since then? The regional committee is now defunct.
The same kind of attitude was metted out to some members in the GYSM leadership that supported Vincent Alexander for leader of the party. What happened to the GYSM? After being in existence for over 50 odd years that too is now defunct.
Finally I want to suggest to birds to read the letter once more because it it clear to me that mac has moved on and rightfully so.
PNC Constitution.One page written on one piece of paper.’We do no wrong.”
Mr Mc Allister admitted that the disciplinary committee wrote him on three occasions outlining eleven charges of misconduct against him and he never responded.
What that tells you! this guy is bigger than big. Not only was he disrespectful to the Party to which he serves. he was also disrespectful to the whole disciplinary committee who was there for him and the others members of his team as well.
Mr Mc Allister why don’t you tell the people why you are not at UG. I am sure the students at the University would have a lot to tell and say about that.
I understand that you are currently employed in the USA why don’t you do the decent thing and resign from Parliament? You are very unkind, to the man you are after (Mr Corbin) that saved you from several embarrassment in the Region to which you were assigned. Like Mr West Bank said are you looking for sympathy-from who?
he has my sympathy and many others