The main opposition PNCR yesterday said a recent campaign against party leader Robert Corbin is part of a plan by a group of “political power-seekers” who have approached its members to establish an alternative political party.
At the PNCR’s weekly news briefing yesterday, party Vice-Chairman Basil Williams said the well-financed group appears to have concluded that the success of its plans depends on undermining the capacity of the PNCR as the only viable political alternative to the ruling PPP.
He said the group has recognised that the AFC has failed in their attempt to form a viable third force and as a result plans to raid all existing political parties of membership in order to form a new political party. “They have already approached members of some of these parties, including PNCR members, to endorse their plan,” Williams said, adding that the group has also considered persuading at least nine of PNCR-1G MPs to defect in the National Assembly, similar to the approach previously adopted by Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan and Sheila Holder towards their former parties.
Williams explained that in pursuit of its objectives, the group commenced organised efforts to undermine unity within the PNCR in the hope of creating disenchantment among its members. In recent newspaper advertisements, a group of persons identifying themselves as “concerned members of the PNCR” called for the resignation of Corbin, whom they accuse of abandoning the main opposition’s cause and its constituency. In paid full-page newspaper advertisements on Sunday, Grace Bovell, Jimmy Newark, Lloyd Hunte and Lethan Rutherford, who sign on behalf of 25 PNCR members, criticised Corbin for his New Year message, suggesting that he is “openly” seeking favours from the PPP administration while ignoring abuses for which they blame the government. “PNCR members must recognise that Corbin is bad news,” the group said, adding that he should resign “and afford the PNCR the opportunity to genuinely oppose the PPP dictator and vote them out of office.” Additionally, there has also been a poster campaign around the city, featuring caricatures Corbin, Dr Aubrey Armstrong and Dr Richard Van West Charles.
According to Williams, the campaign is intended to damage Corbin’s credibility and attack his integrity. He further revealed that the advertisement-placed in the Sunday 10 January 2010 issues of the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News papers-illustrates the depths of deception which this group is prepared to pursue. He said the PNCR delayed its response to the advertisement and instead launched a thorough investigation to determine its origin. In this regard, he reported that one of the names listed for the advertisement does not match the name of any member on the Party Membership Register; another name is similar to the names of two members listed in the Party Membership Register, in Berbice and on the East Coast of Demerara, but both persons have stated that they have no knowledge of the ad. Furthermore, the remaining two names are similar to names of party members listed in the Register for the East Coast of Demerara, but they too have denied any knowledge of the ad. Williams also said it is beyond the means of those members to have found the G$300,000.00 to pay for such an ad. “The full page advertisement was, therefore, one of the tools being used for the wicked and mischievous, but unsuccessful, plot to create dissention within the party by the dissemination of misinformation among PNCR members,” he declared. Williams added: “The PNCR puts this group on notice that [its] mischievous and dastardly efforts will not succeed.”
The PNCR’s Central Executive Committee recently met and discussed the issue, Williams revealed, and has determined that the campaign will not divert its attention from implementing its programme for the years 2010 to 2011. He said the party will, therefore, continue with its efforts to form a broad alliance with like minded organisations and individuals to challenge the ruling “[Bharrat] Jagdeo PPP regime.” At the same time, the PNCR will take all measures to ensure that none of its members or MPs fall victim or inadvertently contribute to the objectives of those who do not have the interests of the PNCR at heart, he added.
