-campaigning on unity platform
Ending months of speculation, incumbent Robert Corbin yesterday officially announced his decision to contest to retain the post of leader of the main opposition PNCR, saying his primary motivation is the need to have stable leadership to make the party “fit for purpose.”
Flanked by supporters including PNCR vice-chairs Basil Williams and Volda Lawrence, Corbin told a news briefing that he accepted the nomination of the 160-odd groups which nominated him and emphasised that he would be part of a team concerned about the future of the party, and Guyana. “I am part of a team that recognises that the enemy is not within but is the present administration that has been involved in several violations of our constitution and has indeed put Guyana in a parlous state at this moment,” he explained. He said too that in order for the party to confront the current administration, it needed to build unity and strength. He acknowledged that there was a mammoth task ahead of the party in terms of conflict resolution, building harmony and ensuring that it was all inclusive to confront challenges that lie ahead.
In addition to Williams and Lawrence, MPs George Norton, Amna Ally, Dave Danny and members Beni Rayman and Lurlene Nestor were among supporters present as Corbin made the announcement.
Ending the speculation: Incumbent Robert Corbin as he announced his candidacy for PNCR leader at a special briefing at Congress Place yesterday. He is flanked by his supporters (from left to right) MP Dr George Norton, Beni Rayman, Lurlene Nestor, party vice-chairs Basil Williams and Volda Lawrence and MPs Amna Ally and Dave Danny.
Corbin explained that his announcement was occasioned by misinformation being peddled about the party’s 16th Biennial Congress. He noted that he stayed away from campaigning in the past or even formally announcing his candidacy because he did not want to divert attention from the important issues engaging the PNCR. He was referring to the explosive allegation emanating from the US trial of Robert Simels, the former attorney of drug kingpin Roger Khan. Corbin said he did not want to distract attention from the issue, adding that it has put the opposition in a very responsible position to deal with the challenges that face Guyana. The PNCR along with other opposition parties has since staged protest action asking for an international probe into the allegations, which link government to Khan’s criminal enterprise.
However, Corbin revealed yesterday that several party supporters have been receiving misleading information about the Congress, among them claims of a postponement and that he would not be running for office. He noted that another vicious rumour was that anyone was invited to the Congress, including old members not in financial standing. Those persons, he explained, felt that the calls were coming from Congress Place. As a result, Corbin thought it necessary as leader to ensure that he brought a halt to any public speculation. He further urged that party supporters and well wishers disregard “mischievous and wicked attempts” to undermine its interest at this time.
He stated that only delegates and observers who were invited by groups and those persons with special invitations would be allowed to enter Congress Place. Limited capacity constrained the party from having a large invitation list, he said, urging that persons disregard rumours and attempts to confuse the situation. Asked later to comment on the elements which have been spreading rumours, Corbin noted that some were known and unknown. He said the party knew the identities of some of the callers and that they clearly had an objective not consistent with promoting a harmonious congress but he would not comment further.
‘Leadership’
Williams had also been nominated for leader, as have former party Chairman Winston Murray, Dr Richard Van West-Charles, Dr Aubrey Armstrong and Aubrey Norton. Until Corbin’s announcement, only Murray and Van West-Charles had confirmed their candidacy.
Corbin said yesterday he was not at all concerned by the others contesting the post, saying it demonstrates that the party is a democratic, with members who are free to exercise their choice. “What is of concern to me is that the PNCR emerges a winner. For me it’s not the individual winners or those clamouring for important positions, what is important is that at the end of this process the PNCR as a party, wins and can give the kind of leadership necessary for a better Guyana,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, when questioned on his level of confidence in the wake of several reservations raised by party members about his leadership, Corbin contended that this was the very reason for the congress. He pointed out that what has transpired in the past weeks is evidence of the democracy alive in the PNCR. “People have been free to say all sorts of things and some of them have their own agenda but I have to act in accordance with a mandate and whoever wants to judge what I have done in stewardship, I challenge them to read my congress speeches over the years,” he declared, while insisting that ultimately the membership of the party would decide. “I will subject myself to the judgement of the members of the PNCR at the upcoming Congress.”
When asked to rate his confidence in being able to retain the leadership, Corbin said, “In my entire political career there are two factors that guide me; the grace of God and the will of the people.” He demurred on whether he would lead the party to the next general elections if he was successful at the Congress, noting that the general elections were too far up the road to consider at the moment. He said the issue would be dealt with in his opening speech at the congress but added that it is his view that it was not automatic that the leader of a party be the presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, Corbin did not address claims of irregularities in the party’s membership register raised by the Van West-Charles campaign, directing questions on the issue to an official party press conference to be held today. He stated however that the party has taken into account its experiences in 2007 and has since put several safeguards and measures in place to ensure transparency and accountability. He did, however, explain that some measures were put in place to provide the opportunity for people to make claims and objections and that the process provided for them to be properly investigated.
If Corbin is re-elected party boss, I think Jagdeo will be given a third term. We have to have a balance if Guyana is going to continue down this road to nowhere with Jagdeo as the driver and Corbin as the front seat passenger and everyone else is in the car trunk asking, “Are we there yet?” And may God help those in the trunk if Jagdeo hits a deep pothole doing 60, or he and Corbin trying to steer the vehicle together. If the blind leads the blind, they both will fall into a ditch!
Jagdeo and Corbin have been feeding at the public trough their entire adult lives, were never really subjected to a rigourous job evaluations and now maintain positions based on popularity and manipulation of the voters’ rolls. An incumbent is very difficult to beat and I don’t think it has ever been done in Guyana’s case. The indignity as leader to have so many aspiring for your position is evidence of severe discontent with Corbin’s leadership and he should do the honourable thing and resign. His recent illness presented him with a perfect exit strategy but like most boxers he doesn’t know when to quit. Those boxers usually end up being punch drunk but Robert is already power drunk. Forget about the perks of office as opposition leader and think about the good of Guyana.
Nation, this is a sad indictment of us as Guyanese. We are guilty of always allowing these politicians to walk all over us, first Burnham and now Jagdeo and in the PNC internals, Corbin, without so much of raising a voice to say, ENOUGH!
We are as docile as donkeys because we follow a leader we share the same race with, even if he’s leading us into the belly of hell. We follow and claw at anyone who dare to challenge his ignorance.
I exclude myself from that indictment, I never voted along racial lines the one time I was allowed to vote in Guyana. In fact during Hoyte’s tenure, I showed up to vote just to deliberately spoil my ballot so that they don’t get it to commit fraud. I put an X in every box and I was a freshly minted 21 years old. That was my protest then and now years later, I am still protesting racial voting, racial party-lines, racial myopia in Guyana which has led us nowhere but backwards while it has allowed narcissists claiming to represent us, feed their own ego while representing no one but themselves.
Proof in 28 years, what progress did the PNC make? In 17 years, what progress did the PPP make? Yet many blog in favor of these two national disgrace.
Corbin deserves to be leader of the PNC as Jagdeo deserves the PPP but we, do we as a nation, deserve the govt we have. Probably yes. We’re just as bad if we allow these dolts to manipulate us while appealing to the worst in us–that little racist, the ahwee/abee bhuoy mentality.
We are guilty of being dotish and docile and of being led like stupid sheep to the slaughter and our Guyana has suffered terrible because of this slavish mentality that we Guyanese have of “following the leader.”
dandy, it bseems to me that you are the blind, corbin or no corbin, jagdeo is the best preze, and sooner or later the whole PNC will be voting for jagdeo and a third term,GOD BLESS BHARRAT JAGDEO.
Re: “If Corbin is re-elected party boss, I think Jagdeo will be given a third term….”. Then this would be like assuming Guyana being a woman in her third term and carrying complicated quadruplets wid de names chosen for de babies being – M. V. Clico, M. V. Sugar, M. V. Bauxite and M. V. “Coke”. And, what a complicated case this would be. Ya all will have fe call in de U. S. Surgeon General fe oversee de delivery.
Correct me if I am wrong but I don’t think Jagdeo can be elected a third time. He has reached his term limit.
You make laugh, I supposed you are absolutely right Mr. Corbin Lost his driver’s licence a long time ago.
Dandy Andy like you I believe with every fiber in my body that it will be the darkest day in Guyana’s history should the delegates be misguided and politically inept to reelect Robert Corbin. Corbin is woefully incompetent to run a chicken coop in Guyana on it’s best day. The Guyanese public have seen the effects of his incompetence, lack of foresight and will to take on and expose the Jagdeo administration for it’s flagrant nepotism, crass corruption, the flight of human capital, break down of law and order, the growth of the narco trade with Guyana as a fluid transhipment point to the western economies, and destruction of the bauxite industry.
Can Robert Corbin truly identify one issue as leader of the opposition he engaged in and resolved for the people of Guyana. The only accomplishment Corbin can truly embrace is the division and destruction of a great political party that Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham built with like minded patriotic Guyanese, then transitioned by Hugh Desmond Hoyte to integrate into the global economy.
While Corbin was engaged in divisive methods to retain his leadership. It should be noted that the archaic support in his picturesque PR attempt are mere has beens of a lost political era. It’s my earnest hope the delegates will deliver the PNCR from the decadent leadership of Robert Corbin. Guyana cannot afford to loose a new generation to weak and inept political leadership. People my speculation should you resolve to reelect Corbin, it would be the end of the great party that pursued causes and transformed the landscape of The Caribbean Community.
It’s a very sad day for guyana when one person thinks that he’s the only person that can lead his party to victory at the polls, this is what i call a selfish person, who can’t see no further than his nose.
AMEN RA IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU CANNOT SEE NO FURTHER THAN YOUR NOSE, VOTE BHARRAT JAGDEO.
amenra, time for you to join the PPP.
yasuman71
You are sure right. That is the only cup allowed below the gravy train. So it back to the 1980’s, No PPP ticket no job and no money.
Anyone interested in doing an analysis of migration from guyana from the 1970’s to 2008. See the different types of migrants and main reasons.
No thank you sir, you can continue to be tricked by these politicians.
It’s a very sad day for guyana when one person thinks that he’s the only person that can lead his party to victory ? Amenra , how is it a very sad day for guyana ? Let me correct u , guyana will be very sad if pnc win the election , not with what corbin said . what’s your problem today , u pick up drinking again ??
Robert Corbin has once again shown he is selfish and power hungry. When one is incapable of looking in the mirror and seeing the source of the problem, hypocrisy and self-aggrandizement are the results. The P.N.C. has an image problem further compounded by an inept and charismatically challenged leader. He is a political tenderfoot and unable and unwilling to rally his supporters to go the extra mile. Indians and other ethnic groups will not vote for this man or his party and the faster the P.N.C. disappears as a political entity from the scene, the sooner the revival of prospects for their disenchanted supporters.
The P.N.C. should become a giant Coop offering a range of services presently obtained from the supporters of the P.P.P.
The P.N.C. should get into commerce and farming of all sorts and their supporters should buy from their own. With their support base as a start, they should be running their own bus service, gas stations, construction companies, shopping malls, markets, import/export etc. Starve the beast that provides the fuel for the P.P.P.and their supporters will get the message. Afro-Guyanese spend a much higher percentage of their disposable income on consumer goods than Indo-Guyanese. Use the power of the purse to level the playing field.
Re: “The P.N.C. should get into commerce and farming of all sorts and their supporters should buy from their own. With their support base as a start, they should be running their own bus service, gas stations, construction companies, shopping malls, markets, import/export etc. Starve the beast that provides the fuel for the P.P.P.and their supporters will get the message. Afro-Guyanese spend a much higher percentage of their disposable income on consumer goods than Indo-Guyanese. Use the power of the purse to level the playing field….”
You appear to be ethnically divisive here “BORAPORK”! So, when de rains and de flooding from de Mighty Atlantic come ah which one ah dem “supporters” (de PNC or de PPP) gun suffer – eh!
Besides, when de L. F. S. International Airport is finally in place who ya think would be using duh – eh!
And; finally, who should dem descendants wid “six” different kind ah blood in de veins support – eh??? Ah talking about dem “Dougla People, Mutt…. what ever ya may wish to call dem!
Where did u get that info from Bora? FYI they tried that already and failed. Remember Globe Trust? They had a giant coop already. Remember when u had to line up at the coop shops from 2am to get a gallon rice? I think you are trying to push them back in the dark days. I guess soon you will want them to have their own schools too.
This is time for unity not segregation and division.
Easy deh BORAPORK ah gat yah driff hay, PNC bin dun ded lang lang time aready. Lik dah Carbin chap gat nuff sweet skin man, him na wan fuh guh look new wuk…
The man is not power hungry Porkman, he is just contesting his position,,what is wrong with that??? It is only fair that the man has his say at the polls he was there from the beggining, some of them cut and run and after decades come back as angels and want the leadership role…Let the delegates have their say on this…
BP,
“Starve the beast …..”
Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.
Kaieteur Gold:To get the South desegregated the S.C.L.C. started with the boycotting of the bus services which were white owned because of unequal treatment. Their crippling of the bus company was the impetus for also boycotting white owned stores. In the crippling of these services a black middle class arrived and the most ugly acts of racism were slowly reduced in numbers and severity. The tormentors were now grudgingly tolerating our presence. You starve the supporters of the status quo and like Humpty Dumpty the walls will come tumbling down. Who knows some unimaginable alliances may emerge.
To support and to love your own is not ethnically divisive if other groups are treated equally and with respect. I never meant that the plunge into Commerce would only be to serve an African market. Services and membership would be available to all. The party structure and membership roll would be a ready vehicle to launch the venture.
Soldier: I know you would love to see a perennial loser at the helm. Think about the good of Guyana and let your partisan bias rest a while.
PLEASE< PLEASE< PLEASE<PLEASE, let them go and do their farming,
crabin show them how to create jobs, lead the flock to salvation
I am in total aggrement with many of what Mr. Corbin had to say such as having stable leadership, building unity and strength. My only concern is that none of the issues you raise in your press conference will be possible under “Corbin’s leadership.” Look how many years you were in this highly paid office and did nothing that the rank and file (poor Guyanese can positively speak about your leadership). One question are you not reading the daily newspaper to gauge the Guyanese masses perception of your leadership. Take your clue from that and please save this party that can be more meaningful to the Guyanese people under a different leadership. Gracefully step down for the good of the people. By the way where is the leader of Team Alexander I was expecting a statement from him during all this commotion.
Re: “Look how many years you were in this highly paid office and did nothing that the rank and file (poor Guyanese can positively speak about your leadership…”
Perhaps it is de “Hoyte Oil” with which he was anointed; but, if it was de “Burnham Oil” dat woulda restore de constitutional rights of overseas based Guyanese he might ah de make a lasting impression. Maybe; and just maybe dem “KABAKA SHOES” must be just too big fuh de man.
ohh what a visionless party.This party needs a total transformation to be a serious contender in any future election.Where is the big ‘R’(reform)?The PPP is like the Usain Bolt in this race.
This party needs to be put out of its misery. To watch from afar its contortions in mediocrity is painful and embarrassing. See them fighting for power but they know not the hour.
Witch Dr. mix another brew. Don’t tarnish the good, proud and magnificent name of Jamaicans Usain Bolt. No proud Jamaican (I am half )want to be equated to the PPP and what it doing to a certain section of Guyanese. Listen up, man, nah trash the name of the mighty wid dat pariah Party. Respect due! Hail the man, Bolt. Tumbs dowm fuh PPP.
Well you have the PHENC witch who is blind as bats and the PPP which is also another set of blind bats. The whole visionless thing is tied to the hips of these 2 albatross we need to move forward with new leaders that have dynamic ideas and who are willing to embrace non resident Guyanese to develop the country not just send cheques.
the afeecee is the biggest blind bat to join the pnc and others in the picket lines, and remember the branch is not far from the tree.
Ow freespeech how your boy McCaws took the OP minibus yesterday with his troop of protesters outside Ramjattan office? hehehehehe you hollering about who joining who at the picket lines? your boys in the protest yesterday could not even remember their lines.
They did not know why they were there to protest hahahhahaa. That is your PPP govt at work. Yes using tax payer dollars to stage some bogus protest against another parliamentarian.
Ow ppp really gone to the dawgs eh, dem chap running the tings deh now really deh bad
“…in order for the party to confront the current administration, it needed to build unity and strength.”
A sound reason for Mr Corbin to withdraw from the contest for leadership.
Indian you have me cracking up here.
I like how you put it…….. ha ha ha
hello mr .corbin thank you very much for not step down. know ppp will get back in power.because of you the people in guyana need change in the life.i do hope you lost.how can you be a leader for party and you do not have money.corbin you had so much chance to be come president of guyana but you lost.best things to do is step down.speach to guyana in america the fell the way i fell.
I AM NOW CONVINCED THAT THE PNC IS A LOSING PARTY AND I WILL
NOW PUT MY ENERGIES TOWARDS THE AFC I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO URGE
ALL GUYANESE TO PUT THEIR FULL SUPPORT BEHIND THE AFC, AS OF
TODAY I AM NO LONGER A PNC SUPPORTER, NOW I WILL CLASSIFIED
THE LEADER OF THE PNC ROBERT CORBIN AS A VISIONLESS
LEADER …..
I’m with you on that, my brother.
TURBO YOU HAVE ANOTHER SUPPORTER HER GOODBYE PNC HELLO AFC.
BRANDON WHERE ARE YOU
Turbo, you are contributing to the premise that all AFC members are PNC members.
You gon run from the coffin and meet up with the jumble Turbo…The AFC is already a dead party, they never got a footing and will never get one, the leaders are more visionless than the PNC…It is better you stay with the lil minority party…
Tarbo you can now see that all the yrs them boys marching was a waste of time….they could have replanted a new palm tree..and would now have new life to face the PPP.
Samarow recruitment drive is picking up steam.
If ya saying “THE LEADER OF THE PNC ROBERT CORBIN AS A VISIONLESS LEADER …..”
Then, just how can ya really blame the dude if he has “vision less” supporters voting for him. Perhaps, the dude has one eye and his supporters have no eyes at all which naturally makes him the “king”!
Cool!
Huh! Re: “Corbin confirms run for PNCR leader”!!!
The magic words are “elect ability” folks. Therefore, looking ahead to General Elections in Guyana in 2011 one must hope that the electorate understand de meaning ah those words.
Go PNC GO! Go Rid Yourself Of Ya Mental Slavery!
And, as de KABAKA might ah de say “come rain or come hell fire…”
“All Your (PNC Membership) Base Are Belong To US”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksFqjI3gyAo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9oh3gqOEKU
Cool!
And, just where in de world is “Stanley Ming” to do dis “locomotion wid meh” – eh!
Oh, Baby, Baby! “Come On And Do De Locomotion…..”
Colin see what i was saying yesterday? what is corbin going to learn and offer Guyanese? what new vision and leadership is he going to all of a sudden heavenly cultivate between now and 2011?
Seriously people who vote for this man just like people who vote for the PPP deserve the punishment they get later on.
Brandon, this has nothing to do with vision. It what’s so wrong with politics in Guyana. Those in leadership cannot see when they have reached their level of incompetence. This man cannot see he can no longer lead effectively, but wants to enjoy the perks associated with the position, and the people who support him, somehow can’t see what the future holds without this person, as they are too busy looking backwards. The idea that he is still seeking the leadership of the party, is an indication that this man is in denial.
Well then Mr Samaroo according to your call it leaves Guyanese with no other alternative but to vote PPPC,,,The AFC is in the middle of the ocean when it comes to vision and ideas…