This was the view of two Government Ministers - Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Ms. Gail Teixeira during a live television analysis yesterday of the PNC/R special Delegates Congress Saturday.

Also participating in the GTV 11 programme was Attorney-at-Law and People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) official Mr. Hubert Rodney.

Referring to Corbin's "constructive engagement" statement at the rally after the Congress, Teixeira said it holds potential and expressed intention, but lacked clarity, as he did not indicate the form of engagement nor a time line for its realisation.

She noted the need for Corbin to reintroduce strong morality and discipline in his party's approach to the engagements.

Among the tasks Teixeira highlighted for the new Leader are dialogue with President Bharrat Jagdeo, the PNC/R's return to Parliament, which will put an end to the current Parliamentary impasse and importantly, a clean up of the PNC/R's poor record as an Opposition party during the past several years.

Corbin should, the minister said, respond to the Head of State's invitation to him on Saturday to meet and discuss matters of national interest.

Also among the expectations of the new Leader as advanced by the ministers yesterday, are his party's recognition of the need for it to be a more responsible Opposition, the PNC/R's positive response to the security situation at Buxton, and its unequivocal support to the law enforcement agencies in the execution of their duties.

Ramsammy said the PNC/R's return to Parliament is expected so that the National Assembly could give effect to the reformed Constitution, which is the best model of shared governance in the Caribbean region.

The Health Minister also suggested that instead of blaming the Government for economic and social problems, the PNC/R should utilise its power given by the Constitution to have an input in the Administration's actions and decisions.

He said that Corbin's election gives the PNC/R a chance to make a difference in the local political situation.

The party's reluctance to participate in Parliament has delayed the appointment of the designated Commissioner of Police Mr. Winston Felix and other Police Officers, members of the Judiciary, members of the teaching profession and public servants, as under the revised Constitution its participation is necessary for these appointments.

Teixeira also pointed out that Corbin's speech Saturday night failed to give a balanced view of the local situation, as it left out the major contributing factors - the drop in international market prices, unfair trading competition being imposed upon third world countries, the ongoing global recession and political instability caused by PNC/R-organised protests dating back to the 1997 post-elections unrest.

Commenting on his claims of discrimination, the ministers noted that the PNC/R did not cooperate with the PPP/C Administration on this issue.

During the early 1990's when former President the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan initiated a paper on ethnic relations, this did not find favour with the PNC, they pointed out.

The PNC/R staying away from Parliament has also affected the establishment of the Ethnic Relations Commission as provided for by the reformed Constitution, they said.