Dear Editor,
Almost two years ago the Peoples’ National Congress Reform and its youth arm held their congresses. Mr Vincent Alexander and some of his other colleagues on the CEC along with the National Chairman of the youth arm and some other executives challenged Mr Corbin’s leadership. There was much controversy over the unusual increase in the membership to 23,000, with 6000 of those being members of the youth arm. Team Alexander called for verification of the membership, but it was not granted and because of that, Team Alexander pulled out of the race.
After those congresses, it became clear that the 23,000 members claimed by Mr Corbin were only members on paper. Instead of the level of activities of the PNCR and its youth arm increasing it took a nosedive. It was as if the party was dead. A member of the youth arm even admitted to me that names were taken from the GT&T directory and placed on membership forms.
During the campaign against Vincent Alexander Mr Corbin went across the country and promised the young people all sorts of things. He spoke of his ‘Yes’ programme; he promised sports gear and scholarships, etc. After the congress, they did not hear from Mr Corbin again. It was as if all Mr Corbin wanted was to be leader. Once he got that, nothing else was important. Not fulfilling his promises; not serving his constituency.
Another congress is approaching and Dr Van West Charles has indicated his interest in challenging Mr Corbin’s leadership. Mr Corbin is now running all across the country having bottom house meetings with members and supporters claiming he is organizing the party. Why did Mr Corbin not do this over the last year and a half? Why is it that he is only interested in organizing the party when his position is threatened?
I understand that Mr Corbin has organized a retreat with 40 young people at Camp Madewini to resuscitate the GYSM. Resuscitate the GYSM? This was the organization that the general secretary claimed had 6,000 members a few months ago. What is important is what potential participants were told. Potential participants were told that the GYSM is being resuscitated because Dr Richard Van West Charles is challenging Mr Corbin for the leadership.
This is a scandal. I know that for three years Mr Corbin undermined the last executive of the youth arm. When he was doing that, he was undermining young people who support the PNCR. After the congress, Mr Corbin took over the GYSM. What did he do? Nothing for 18 months. Now that he is being challenged again he wants to resuscitate the GYSM.
When I look at all of this, I am convinced that Mr Corbin has no interest in young people. He has used us and still wants to use us.
Yours faithfully,
Shellon Benjamin
Why you people allow Corbin to manipulate you is beyond me.It is a sad day when I would chose Hamilton Green over someone as leader. Corbin has no interest in leading the PNC, his only interest is in Corbin. He has lost all credibility he had,and if he called a rally today only 50 people would show up.
I could not see myself voting for this man and more people in the party should speak up about his failures as a leader. He is more obsess with being the opposition leader than crafting any solutions to the problem of his constituents who are being trampled upon by the PPP.
For the sake of the party and Guyana,please remove this man as opposition leader.
Btw,when is the next PNC congress?
Corbin is a dinosaur & Van West Charles in an opportunistic dinosaur detached from the harsh realities of Guyana. Team Alexander in my opinion, has the best chance of leading not only the PNC but Guyana forward. GO VINCENT!!!
I find it most amusing, that supposedly party loyalists behave in this manner. Even more amusing is the fact that they always find Stabroek News to air their grieviances and disappointments. The writer sounds very bitter.
Very good. What you have here is a dictatorship of the proliteriat.can’t you people see that? Should be familiar to you folks by now.
shellon benjamin you seem to be very new in the party politics i guess you spend some time to talk to those whowere there before you .
It has always been the norm for ,party and gysm groups to be resuscitated around elections and congress.
It is also not strange for a large increase in membership it is not new .
.we have seen what happened in america .People are fedup with same old dirty politics and need a change .pnc needs a barack obama to change the party.
I was at Low Creek on a so called orientation class after boot camp in the seventies. Corbin was lording it over all who were there. He was called a ‘coordinator.’ Of what, cadres,pioneers,nobody knows to this day.Nothing was by the way coordinated.Making speeches though was what he was all about.”this is a classless society,” and “all are equal.” Nobody however believed any of this orchestrated Bolshevik baloney.What he is however doing and saying now, is entirely different from his stated principles.
The PNCR, if it intends on returning to it’s former position, must quickly assess its leadership and the need to change. Mr Corbin, as the writer rightly opines, has no interest in youth or youth development and his current hold on the Party’s youth arm is due to the devisive political role he undertakes. Mr Corbin, with strong aid from his Youth Advisors Ms. Lurlene Nestor and Denton Osborne, endorsed the election of a Keyno Henry as Chairman of the GYSM at the Youth Arm’s last congress. Three meetings later Henry was gone. Missing in Action. A Ms McAllister was named Chairman (ag). As far as I am concerned, this young lady, though she may be qualified does not enjoy the support of the Party leadership, as Mr Corbin, through the National Secretary controls and direct the mandate of the GYSM. The National Secretary, in breach of the constitution, arbitrarily convenes Executive meetings and can be referred to as Corbin’s new Puppet on a String.
Corbin, of course, has recognised that he cannot use the acting Chair to perpetuate his lies and dirty tricks. I say hats off to her for being strong!!
It is understandable that Mr. Corbin being Leader of the Pary is ex officio member. But his current actions are in serious contrast to his so called intentions to step down.
In my mind Corbin, is cementing his position as Leader and has no intention of standing aside to a new era.
Stong and independent young people, the likes of Ms. Chiyedza James, Bevon Currie, Twidale Harry and even Ms McAllister will never find favour in a Corbin lead PNCR.
The party indeed needs an Obama, but it must be admitted that Vincent Alexander is not qualified. What the party needs is a Joe Singh, or an Aubrey Armstrong to lead its constituence.