Dear Editor,
Within recent times Mr Robert Corbin has been having a lot of negative press. Too much for his own good. Mr Corbin wears many hats. He is the Leader of the PNCR, Opposition Leader, and President General of the Guyana Labour Union.
Much of this publicity has to do with the failure of Mr Corbin and/or his public relations office to ensure that his voice is heard on critical issues, and make sure that his actions are seen as credible and above board, and most importantly that his management is consistent with the needs of his constituents. It is no doubt the failure to properly articulate and represent these interest areas that is contributing to the current internal party struggles, the apathy among supporters, the suspicions in the society and his questioned ability as an astute leader.
At the party level Mr Corbin, after setting the stage for disciplining Team Alexander in his address to the Congress, seems to be singularly focused on pursuing actions that will cause more harm than good to the party. The information in the public domain leaves no doubt in persons’ minds the current Discipli-nary Committee is engaging in a ruthless exercise to ensure any attempt to challenge Mr Corbin will not surface again.
At the parliamentary level the PNC is failing to lead by bringing Bills to the House that will force the PPP, TUF, AFC and GAP/WPA to debate issues that impact on a significant section in society- the PNC supporters. The party continues to ignore who it was elected by, and turns a blind eye and deaf ear to the deprivation and cries of its constituents. The intellects in the party cannot accept that the whole (Guyana) is made up of parts (six races) and they were elected by the part to represent their interests in the whole. The AFC is also guilty. On the other hand Mr. Jagdeo continues to satisfy the needs of his supporters even at the exclusion and expense of others.
African Guyanese on October 12 observed the MAAFA. Columbus “discoveries” brought agonies to the lives of Africans as millions have lost their lives in the middle passage and suffered the worst act to human by human. There is a resurging militancy in the African community in pursuit of equal opportunity, equal right and equal justice. This must be commended since it is strongly driven by civil society. But even civil society needs the input of the politicians to make things happen. The greatest honour Mr Corbin and the PNC can pay to the African community during this month is to take the Ancestral Bill back to parliament for debate. Challenge the parliamentarians including President Jagdeo who earlier this year endorsed African calls for Reparation to truly demonstrate their willingness to respect the African struggles for equality. This will be President Jagdeo’s first test to sincerity about supporting reparation.
At the labour front the Guyana Trades Union Congress subvention was taken away by the PPP government because of their refusal to compromise labour’s principles. The PNC continues to condemn the removal of the subvention. Mr Corbin, as President General of the GLU, at its Conference to be held October 21-23 can move a motion where the GLU will refuse to take any financial assistance from the government until the TUC subvention is returned. It should be noted that this is a recent practice of the PPP to discriminately give state funds (tax payers’ monies) to so called friendly unions. Mr Corbin should also remove his union as the Public Service Commission represented and demand that the PPP appoint a GPSU member. Also, Mr Corbin should come clean and let it be known why his union is affiliated to FITUG which is a PPP apparatus and was resuscitated after the TUC condemned the police shooting of unarmed public servants, who are in the main PNC supporters. Mr Corbin needs to come clean and let it be known if he is contesting the post of GLU President General. He needs to dispel or confirm the rumours that he was not nominated for the post and if so why? Persons also need to know what is Mr Corbin’s position on Mr Carvil Duncan’s- his administrator- public behaviour. What is the status of the GLU investigation into the missing 2.9m dollars. What is the progress of talks between the TUC and GLU.
Mr Robert Corbin has much to do to return him to the confidence he once enjoyed with his supporters (party and union) but the longest journey begins with the first step. And the first step can start now.
Yours faithfully,
Hector C. Burnette Jr
