Referring to statements made by PNCR leader Robert Corbin “attributing press reports about rumours of discussions in opposition circles in reference to coalition politics to the party,” the PPP said it had made no comment on that issue at the time Corbin made his remarks.
Corbin had said on Friday that the recent flurry of reportage in the state media about the subject of an opposition alliance was likely a sign that the PPP/C government was panicking over the prospects of an opposition coalition.
“Indeed it is clear that the opposition is panicking because of the divisions in their ranks,” the PPP said in a statement yesterday, noting that Corbin has been challenged many times for leadership of his party. The PPP said too that the Alliance for Change (AFC) is also deeply split over leadership issues.
According to the party, the level of “deception” of some opposition leaders is now coming to the fore. It made mention of statements AFC leader Raphael Trotman made about his party uniting with the PNCR, adding that Trotman even denied talking with the main opposition party.
The PPP said “a lot of persons” are disillusioned with the leadership of both the AFC and the PNCR and “this must be the reason for the panic that is sweeping through the ranks of those parties”. The statement added that the PPP/C alliance has defeated the PNCR in the past and it posited that what is happening in the opposition is “just a shuffling of cards”.
On Friday, Corbin told reporters that the PNCR remains committed to an opposition alliance and he expressed surprise at the sudden national attention being paid to a possible coalition with other parties.
“The only assumption that I could arrive at for this sudden anxiety is that the regime probably feels threatened from what has been happening in fellow Caricom countries… that such an alliance, if it indeed materializes, will see the end of the PPP in office,” Corbin said. “I do believe so, but as to whether we achieve that will depend upon the will of the political parties in this country,” he added.
