Dear Editor,
Recently, there have been several calls, from some sources, for Mr Corbin to resign. The challenge to the leadership of the PNCR is not new. The late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham and Hugh Desmond Hoyte survived such challenges and, for Mr Corbin, this too shall pass and the PNCR will become a stronger and a viable party for governing Guyana, since it was built on a strong foundation.
A few years ago, almost the same scenario was unveiled. A group of executive members felt that Hoyte should go. Among their expressed reasons were that Mr Hoyte was too old and was soft. One letter writer then accused him and the PNCR of being ineffective. (See SN 3.1.02, ‘The PNC is no longer an opposition of any consequence’ – letter from Aubrey Norton). In the SN of 28.12.99 there was a report entitled, ‘PNC faction wants new leader for next poll – regional conferences back Hoyte.’ The article provides useful insights on the attempts to get rid of Mr Hoyte, including references to a group of eight (originally ten) members of the central executive committee who were pressing Hoyte to step down, and the fact that Hoyte received approval from a general council meeting to carry on.
Just when it appeared that all was settled there appeared another letter from Mr James McAllister in the SN which contradicted a statement from the General Secretary of the PNC. SN then ran a story in their January 10, 2000 issue under the caption, ‘PNC leadership issue still alive – McAllister.’ It appears that the more things change the more they remain the same.
Christopher Ram, in his letter captioned, ‘Mr Corbin has an opportunity to put country and party before personal considerations’ (Sunday Stabroek 14.12.08) enunciated with some precision the departure of many of the prominent leaders of the PNCR during the period of Mr Corbin’s leadership since 2003. What he did not make clear to the readers was the fact that those persons left of their own accord and as far as I am aware no reasons were made public. Space does not permit a detailed examination, but let’s take two examples of the names mentioned by Ram.
SN of April 7, 2007 in reporting on Ms Supriya Singh’s resignation stated that, “Singh told Stabroek News that her decision was due to the amount of time she was spending outside of Guyana as a result of her work commitments. She is an interior designer… Singh said her relationship with the party and leader Corbin remains cordial.”
In 2003, at a Special Congress convened soon after Mr Hoyte’s passing, Mr Artie Ricknauth contested for the position of Leader of the Party. He lost to Mr Corbin and there was no acrimony at the end of the elections. So much for those who now claim that there is no democracy in the PNCR. However, shortly after that Congress Mr Ricknauth left to pursue advanced studies in Canada. I believe he had a democratic right to make his own decisions.
It is unnecessary to deal with all the names referred to by Mr Ram but I am sure that they all had a good reason. What must be noted, however, is that none were expelled from the PNCR or stated any public disagreements. But even if there were disagreements, does it mean that the majority of the members of the party shared their opinion? I think not, because the party re-elected Mr Corbin in 2004 and in 2007 and the General Council recently reaffirmed their confidence in his leadership.
Mr Ram should also know that Mr Corbin has the full support and confidence of the groups, not only in Guyana, but also in North America. The North American Region (NAR) of the PNCR recently reaffirmed its support at its last regional conference in Toronto on November 7, 2008. If Mr Ram had engaged in proper research he would have discovered that there are many competent and qualified members of the PNCR in the diaspora who remain committed to the PNCR and whose only reason for being overseas is the discriminatory policies of the PPP regime. I am intrigued when Mr Ram wrote that Mr Corbin should put country and party before personal considerations. History would have been different if those who walked away for various reasons had put the country and party before their personal aspirations. We would have been more energized and the current debate about leadership may not have even existed. Moreover, we have to be fair in our analysis of this current leadership challenge within the PNCR.
Additionally, I am appalled at Mr Ram’s shallow analysis of the 2006 general elections. It may be instructive if he were to examine the campaign managers of the PNCR election campaigns from 1978 to 2001 under both LFS Burnham and Desmond Hoyte. In comparing the reduction of the PNCR percentage of the votes between 2001 and 2006 Mr Ram should also factor in the campaign managers and the party functionaries responsible in the various regions. That analysis may be very revealing, particularly in Regions 1, 2, 3 and 10. It would therefore be useful to continue such an analysis on a region by region basis and look at how those on your list of aspiring leaders and their surrogates performed on the ground in 2006 election. The point being made here is that no one person in a party can be blamed for poor performance, though it is admitted that the leader ultimately has to bear the cross.
What about the intensification of racial tensions and polarization under the PPP since 1992? Most analysts have described Guyana’s elections as an ethnic census. Has Mr Ram considered this dimension? What were the negative effects of the uncertainty of the PNCR’s participation and their campaign of, “No Verification: No Elec-tion”? What of their last minute decision to contest? What were the adverse effects of the PNCR spending a great deal of time working for a broad coalition of opposition forces under the banner of ‘One Guyana’ and again deciding at the last moment to enter the polls virtually alone? What was the effect of the ACDA campaign that initially advised Guyanese that to vote was a waste of time?
The furor over recent disciplinary actions by the party in response to directions from the Congress and the General Council of the party should have come as no surprise to anyone who was aware of the inner activities in the PNCR. The decision was inevitable, unless the supporters of the PNCR want anarchy. No one in the PNCR, as far as I am aware, was against any leadership challenge to Mr Corbin. However, to do so at the expense of undermining the entire institution speaks more of selfishness rather than genuine concern for the future of the party.
The ultimate goal of each aspiring leader of the PNCR should be to energize the electorate and garner votes at elections. Those who aspire should also show by work and example that they are capable of the unenviable task ahead and not base their campaign on the alleged failings of the current leader. Unfortunately, one of the reasons for the performance of the PNCR at the last election is directly linked to the poor performance of many of the aspiring leaders who failed to energize their bases. We can speak authoritatively on this matter because we sent volunteers from the NAR who worked on the ground in that election and we have their objective reports.
It should be noted that Mr Corbin was responsible for the revitalization of overseas party groups since 2003 and the formation of the NAR which since its birth has been able to transfer valuable resources to sustain the operations of the PNCR in Guyana. We urge those who stand on the sidelines claiming to be concerned, but engaging only in criticism, to do likewise.
Yours faithfully,
Terrence Simon
Secretary
PNCR NAR
Mr. Simon I taught u were one of the members who recently signed the Party’s code of conduct which strictly forbids members from having public discussions on internal Party matters and was against airing the Party’s ‘dirty laundry’ in public. I hope any response to this piece of retoric would not be viewed in that light.
First let me qualify this comment by saying I am politically neutral.I have no interest in tieing up my emotions in ANY political party or it’s ideology the world over.I try to see things in the gray areas of politics.There is good and bad on both sides,just let me choose the right and reject the wrongs as I see them.With that objectivity I will proceed.
Now,Mr Simon seems to have his head buried in the sand.Impressively, he attempts to justify incompetence by quoting past statements and events.In politics the only thing that matters is numbers.The PNC is losing support and does not know how to stop it.Their performance over the last few elections should be the metric by which they measure themselves.Blaming their loses on the PPP and it’s race leaning politics will not fly with any right thinking person.Race is the reality of the situation so the onus is on the PNC and others to break through the perception indians have about them.Until they can do that they will remain an oppostion fading into insignificance.They can fight all they want among themselves over who should be their leader but nothing will change.
Mr Simon et al,the PPP win is usually around 53% and that means the opposition have to move the neddle 3.1% in their direction to win the election.Around the world most oppositions will gladly accept the challenge of convincing 4 out of every 100 people in the population to switch their vote while holding their base.A 350,000 electorate in Guyana means that number is 14,000;about the Bourda cricket ground capacity.I am sure you can go out and find 14001 people who voted for the PPP that are willing to consider a viable opposition or just simply add new voters.I don’t see why this task seems so huge to them;I am guessing they don’t know what to do or where to start.All it takes is hard work at the grass roots level,a candidate who can help change enough indians perception/fears about the PNC (and blacks) and agressive messaging.But then again they have 5 years to do it
Does winning still seem that far off??……I see incompetence in the oppostion..Deh lazy!!!!
Very intelligent comment.
Joe.
The PPP can also convice another 20,000 to vote for them..
Eastbanner,I agree with you that the PPP can also convince another 20,000 to vote for them.That is exactly my point;political parties should suck it up and find a way to win.The Guyana situation is not necessarily as bad as the opposition is making it out to be.In other places parties have thrived in worst environments
change enough indians perception/fears about the PNC !!! They, the indians lived through the PNC(Dictatorship)
What challenge to Burnham power !!!!! Are u writing fantasy. Maybe Freddie can tell us about challenges to the dictator.
The AFC is a start, they now need to collate with the other parties in 2009 to be an alternative to the commies. Come on board Ravi, Roop,Sam Hinds,Alexander etc.etc.
Re: “[...change enough indians perception/fears about the PNC !!! They, the indians lived through the PNC(Dictatorship)...]” It is about time persons like yourself stop pushing the race card because if it was race that was the issue then President-elect Barack Obama would not have won in a state in the USA where African-American voters numbered less that 15% of the electorate. So, how about people focusing on the “issues” which matter most!
Don’t you remember the Bill Clinton Administration’s Election Campaign Slogan which was: “Its The Economy – Stupid”!
Race has been and is still a part of the politics of the PNC(Dictatorship) and the PPP(comies). Until the population moves
beyond race, the place would be a flood(cesspool)
let me see: pnc,pnc/r,pnc/1g. now pncr nar?
Re: “pnc,pnc/r,pnc/1g. now pncr nar?…” LOL! Hmmmmm….. Let me see… has something been leaked to you from an “unpublished letter” to Stabroek News???
PNC IS A TOTAL WASTE.RUINED OUR NATION FOR 28 YEARS.
Re: “PNC IS A TOTAL WASTE.RUINED OUR NATION FOR 28 YEARS…” So, what are still living in Canada??? Besides, is it not a good thing that countries are in a mess sometimes… because if Africa did not give up Burnham’s ancestors to slavery then there would have been no Burnham; and, if there were no indentureship programs then there would have been no PPP party in Guyana to be talking about now; and, just think about – if was not “perceived” that the current US administration “messed up” for the last eight years… then there would have been no President-elect Barack Obama for people all over the world to be talking about. So, don’t you agree that it is a very good thing for other people to “mess up” (like the current Guyana government administration is doing) sometimes so that others can be given a chance!
All those who calling Burnham a dictator, then you can ask Freddie who Jagdeo is. Or even Mark Benchop and Hinckson can tell you.
As for Nickey’s comment on the discussions on internal Party matters, and airing the Party’s ‘dirty laundry in public, everything Simon stated in his letter was already presented publically through Stabroek News by the different writers.
The Party members have to keep focus and not be distracted. There is bigger problems now in the country with the flood.
Interesting comments here Terrence Simon, but it shows, that Guyana is suffering from a serious ‘Brain Drain’ problem even in the political arena. I don’t think your PNCR today have the slightest clue for attracting new voters much less keeping the ones, which Burnham and Hoyte had already secured over the decades.
The way I see it, is that all tax-payers (voters) want the same things regardless of race or ethnicity, they want Public Service for things collectively that they can not do for themselves individually in their communities. For example, removing the stagnant flood waters from their backyards and drainage and irrigation maintenance.
Terrence, you may want to say that doing Public Service is the job for the elected Gov’t in power, of course, but isn’t that what all political parties ascribe to becoming one day, the Gov’t?? Besides when a lazy and incompetent Gov’t eventually fails, it’s mostly due to an aggressive opposition doing the Public Service for the electorate. In other words, the opposition parties are basically a Gov’t in waiting and as such ought to be behaving like an organized entity and not petty dictatorships.
I agree that, playing politics is part of the equation that political parties often preoccupy themselves with, however, securing new voters win elections. And new votes are earned by doing Public Service on a daily basis, especially during times of national crisis. So if the political party is still campaigning for votes at election time, then I’m afraid that’s much too late to be farming for new voters. Voters outreach is a Public Service phenomenon and not a political ploy.
The PNCR has cocooned itself on account of it’s out-dated policies and practices and continue to work feverishly at securing an already dwindling base of supporters. Remember my friend Terrence, elections are won by adding new voters to an energized party base. Right now the PNCR is fragmenting its base due to petty personality politics, which makes Corbin the problem and not the solution. Leadership is about seeking quick solutions instead of managing failure and malice. Bannas, alya gat sum hart ova deh bai I wooda dun quit lang time.
Very good observation here.The opposition parties (and I would like to see all of them forge themselves into one with a common purpose)can prove their usefullness and build their credibility with the Guyanese public by addressing the issues you just described.The opposition have to get into the communities one by one and regularly and listen and understand the people’s problems,take action where they can or take it to parliament demanding actions from the government.Nothing draws people to a poltical party like when they know that that party is going to fight for them.
Cochore you might be a good politician.You have the ideas how to get votes.Sharma too had the right idea,but he was frequently ridiculed
ITS clear that some folks just don’t get it, ther’s no hope in the near future for the PNC in ANY FORM,winning an election in GUY. ..I agree totally with .Rodney” .. not after what they have done IN and OUT of Govt. in the last 44yrs… A third party was the dream of many “Thinking” guyanese. the AFC,has opened the door for many… Thoug I’m not impressed with the Present Leadership… it is a start… so many of our Bloggers seem to miss the point,..the shift of 20,000 or so pnc sopporters to the AFC, WAS DUE TO DISGUST with the pnc.s ‘brainless’ and crude tactics over the past 10 years, not discontent with its current leader,… many of those who have challenged Mr. Corbin, were the architects of the selfdestructing initiatives against the Elected govt…….
Re: “[...A third party was the dream of many “Thinking” Guyanese...]” There is the saying that: “A New Broom Sweeps Clean… But, “An Old Broom Knows All The Corners” (like an “Old Soldier” would know the trenches in a time of war)”. So, how about that for food for thought – Huh!
Nickey’s comment on the discussions on internal Party matters, and airing the Party’s ‘dirty laundry in public, everything Simon stated in his letter was already presented publically through Stabroek News by the different writers.
The Party members have to keep focus and not be distracted. There is bigger problems now in the country with the flood.
is dem same man dis that fighting down corbin din fighting down hoyte, all ah dem power drunk, they should shut up and gee the man the kind ah support the party need. vincent should tek moses nagamootoo as a good example, i think he is bearing more burden dan he can fetch from the ppp lockies but the man respect the party and putting he own personal issues aside. in time to come he gon rise as the true leader of the ppp. as to the other one james mcallister how in heavens he expect to wuk in the us and still get pay from parliament, wah dem man tek guyanese tax payers fuh, joke, corbin right to kick he out, he wrong, can’t get two sweet out ah one knot. and since say he ain’t get no time wid the pnc he should geeh dem back the gecom wuk, you can’t wan dis the people and still get pay off ah dem, yuh gon look bad minded and coveteous, no offence, only the truth.