In his New Year’s message he once again said that shared governance is the path to take.
Corbin posited that breaking the cycle of division and ethnic polarization in the country is an important key for unlocking the potential of the country’s people to ensure a prosperous future.
“I am convinced, however, that this will only occur if we are prepared to embrace fundamental change. Our system of governance is pivotal. It is irrelevant whether we want, for convenience, to describe it as shared governance or inclusive governance. Let us take the opportunity, in 2010, to commence that journey, no matter how difficult it may seem,” Corbin said.
The PNCR leader suggested that President Bharrat Jagdeo take the opportunity of his last two years in office to leave a legacy and one of the ways to do so is to make consultations meaningful. He also recommended that the President ensure that local government reform becomes a reality and that he removes the government radio broadcast monopoly by submitting National Broadcast Legislation to establish a National Broadcast Authority. The passing of Freedom of Information legislation is also important and implementing consensually agreed constitutional reforms which were all passed into law by the National Assembly since the third quarter of 2001.
Corbin also had good wishes for Commissioner of Police Henry Greene and Crime Chief Seelall Persaud both of whom he asked to make the country proud in the new year by reducing crime and road accidents and ending torture and other malpractices and unprofessional conduct among police officers.
And Corbin called on all Guyanese to work together to change the system of governance to remove all semblances of dictatorship and arrogance. He said that while presidential matters should be discussed they should not be focused on removing term limits — a reference to talk about President Jagdeo running for a third term in office — but rather to change the system of electing a president to ensure that the president enjoys more than 51% support of the entire electorate.
He urged a review of the country’s parliamentary system, to ensure that legislation passed enjoys the support of more than a simple majority in the National Assembly. Guyanese should also work together to ensure the equitable allocation of state resources for the development of communities across the country and in the award of contracts to Guyanese and to reduce the overall cost of consumer items and, by extension, bring down the cost of living. The many challenges facing the poor, the unemployed, pensioners, single mothers and various other categories of disadvantaged Guyanese should also be addressed, he said.
Looking back at 2009, Corbin said the cycle of unsavoury events persisted and, in most cases, worsened. He cited executive lawlessness; lack of transparency; corruption and a plethora of scandals.
He also listed “disregard for the rule of law; decline in morality at the highest levels of the land; interference with the independence of the judiciary; harassment and victimization of opponents of the government…” among other ills. The Roger Khan saga and the allegations of government links to the drug kingpin were also mentioned.
Rays of hope
But it has not all been doom and gloom, according to Corbin, who acknowledged that there had been “some developments which offer rays of hope” during last year.
He noted that amid the negative actions of some police officers in the performance of their duties and the daily serious crimes, Commissioner Greene had reported that the overall statistics showed a reduction in crime. “For this achievement, those hard working members of the GPF should be commended,” Corbin said.
In spite of the serious reports of torture by ranks of the GDF, he said, members of the force were able to display remarkable courage in the retrieval of the body of Aliya Bulkan from the bottom of the 721 ft Kaieteur Falls, thus bringing relief and closure to her bereaved family. For this and other positive actions by the GDF we ought to salute and offer commendation to the Chief of Staff and the other brave ranks of the GDF who made us proud.
And he noted that the prolonged silence of many Guyanese stakeholders on matters of national importance was broken by the torture of a teenager, adding that this seemed to have been the catalyst to motivate them to recognize the need for their involvement in serious matters that affect all Guyanese.
Further, Corbin also acknowledged that through the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) Guyana was able to gain international recognition for its advocacy. He also mentioned the agreement Guyana signed with Norway.
