Dear Editor,
A few months ago Mr. James Reece informed the nation that a large sum of US dollars was stolen from a drawer in Mr. Robert Corbin’s office. This money, approximately US $160,000, he said was donated to the PNCR by a long-standing supporter.
Mr. Corbin called in the police and a cleaner, his secretary and a driver were questioned by the police. They were eventually released and they all returned to work. The PNCR did not recover its money.
What are the financial arrangements in the PNCR? Is it normal for the leader of the party to keep large amounts of party money in this manner? What about accountability?
In any case if a functionary collects an organization’s money he is responsible until the money is lodged or deposited.
I therefore would like to ask the General Secretary of the PNCR the following questions;
1. Is it normal for the Leader of the PNCR to store money in this way?
2. Did Mr. Corbin make any restitution?
3. Who is the treasurer of the PNCR?
I hope Mr. Oscar Clarke responds since the PNCR is a public institution and the public has the right to know.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Sharpe
Editor’s note
We sent a copy of this letter to Mr Oscar Clarke, General Secretary of the PNC/R for any comments he may wish to make and received the following response:
“I wish to acknowledge receipt of your email of 7 March 2007, forwarding a letter received from a reader for my comment.
A review of the letter columns of the two daily newspapers clearly reveals that there is an orchestrated letter writing campaign, by persons unknown, with the obvious intent to undermine the People’s National Congress Reform and, more particularly, besmirch the character of the Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin.
While unknown letter writers are free to attempt to use the media to perpetrate their devious schemes, the editors of the newspapers have a responsibility to verify any information that they ultimately publish to ensure that they do not become party to such schemes. It is the only way that a newspaper can maintain a reputation of excellence, independence and objectivity. Regrettably, many of these letters have been published in your newspaper without such courtesies being extended. In this context I thank you for the courtesy now extended with respect to this particular letter.
You may be aware that this letter (editor’s note: the above letter is a heavily edited version of the original)was already published in the Kaieteur News of March 6, 2007, under the caption “Financial accountability in the PNCR”. I have replied to this letter which contained wild, erroneous and possibly libellous statements and sent a copy to your newspaper. I can also advise that this letter is engaging the attention of Mr. Corbin’s lawyers who are of the firm opinion that that the letter is libellous.
The writer based his source of information on another unknown and mysterious writer, James Reese. Like Andrew Sharpe, Reese has previously written letters containing erroneous information, obviously intended to undermine the image of the PNCR and, more particularly, impugn the character of its elected Leader.
It is clear that neither the unknown Reese nor the newly emerged Andrew Sharpe has any concrete knowledge of the PNCR and its financial affairs. A perusal of all of Reese’s letters published in the newspapers over the last year, will disclose that none of the information which Andrew Sharpe now claims to have obtained from those letters is contained therein.
In view of the fact that this letter is engaging the attention of Mr. Corbin’s lawyers I would restrict my comments to the following.
* No such sum of US$160,000 was ever available at the PNCR headquarters or more particularly, in the Leader’s office. Consequently, no such sum could have been lost.
* The PNCR has always kept and maintained accurate financial records. Contributions to the PNCR are made from several donors directly at Congress Place, directly into our Bank accounts or through many of the executive members of the Party, including the Leader. All donations to our Party, however, have been promptly acknowledged and the donors provided with receipts. Most of the receipts are accompanied by a personal thank-you letter from the Leader.
* There have never been any accountability issues within the Party and members are free to query those matters at the appropriate forums of the Party.
* Finally, let me state that the Party’s financial affairs are being managed by a Finance Committee appointed by the Cen-tral Executive Committee and a Finance Department in the Party Secretariat.
* The questions asked by Andrew Sharpe are obviously malicious and by innuendo are intended to besmirch the character of the Leader of the PNCR. This aspect of the matter, however, I leave for Mr. Corbin’s lawyers.”
