Corbin ‘bombs' partisan calls for Afro-Guyanese-dominated party approach
--defends decision against post-elections street demonstrations
By Gordon French
Kaieteur News
November 22, 2006
Leader of the People's National Congress Refom-1 Guyana (PNCR-1G), Robert Corbin, has dispensed with partisan views expressed by some party members that the party should focus attention on Afro-Guyanese and should have taken to the streets during the post-elections era.
The party held its General Council meeting on Saturday at Congress Place , Sophia, where concerns were raised suggesting that the party's Youth arm was being neglected.
Addressing representatives from the 10 administrative regions at the meeting, Corbin outlined that the party should focus on re-organisation, accelerating its programme of shared governance, heighten preparations for Local Government Elections and vigorously represent its constituents through the various Regional Councils and Parliament.
At the party congress, Corbin benefited from a unanimous resolution in support of his leadership.
He stated that the re-organising of the party must be premised on a clear understanding of the present objectives of the PNCR.
The party suffered its worst defeat in an election at the August 28 polls, and the subsequent removal of several prominent persons from its Parliamentary team has raised eyebrows, leading to speculations of a power struggle within the party.
There have also been questions raised about Corbin's popularity as Leader, and its effect on the outcome of the elections.
Corbin alluded that there are many who felt that in the post-elections period the PNCR should have taken to the streets, and that by not doing so, it reflected weaknesses within the party.
He added that there are those who feel that because the results of the elections appear to suggest that ethnic voting patterns still persist, the PNCR should become a party representing the interests of only Afro-Guyanese.
“That approach will be the death knell of this party. If that is the majority view…Then I think we have a right to let me know as Leader, because then I will have difficulty in piloting the party on such a course, if they are serious about giving leadership to this country,” Corbin told the party's congress.
Corbin stated that while the party has to represent Afro-Guyanese interests, especially in the context that the majority of its members are of Afro-Guyanese origin, it must never be misunderstood that it is the only focus of the party.
Corbin had told Kaieteur News that he does not aspire to die in office, as his predecessors did, and revealed that the party has embarked on a programme to prepare young people within its fold for leadership positions.
He also denied a Stabroek News report which stated that he had told a party Executive meeting that he was not interested in being elected as party Leader at the next year's congress.
Corbin told the General Council meeting that the party's Executive Council had completed a report on areas of focus, which is based on its elections performance.
The recommendations include designing a new and more effective approach to organising the party in the future, remodelling of the party constitution, and providing for a professional management team, elaborating and implementing new strategies to garner resources.
Kaieteur News understands that flowing from questions from the floor, it was remarked that the Leadership had neglected the Youth and Student Movement (YSM), the Youth arm of the party.
Allegations were raised that the leadership has embarked on a campaign to stifle the movement by limiting funds and other resources.
Corbin, during his address, noted that the party needed a vibrant Youth movement.
He said that there was no doubt that the party needed to establish a vibrant Youth arm, since there are problems with the present organisation.