City Mayor Hamilton Green’s accession to the hierarchy of the main opposition People’s National Congress following years out of the inner circle is an indication the party is one capable of reconciliation, leader Robert Corbin has asserted.
After a full and controversial political life as Prime Minister under the PNC administration, Green who was elected at the party’s August 21-21 Biennial Congress is basically driven by a desire to help build a better Guyana.
In the 2001 election, the PNCR brought to the fore the concept of ‘reform’ bringing on a number of new faces to its platform. However old party stalwarts such as Green and Dr. Faith Harding are now part of the recently elected Central Executive Committee (CEC).
Asked about any anticipated criticisms in this regard, Corbin told Stabroek News yesterday that this demonstrated that the party is capable of reconciliation and of bringing back old members who are energetic and can contribute constructively towards the development of the party.
He added that a democratic process was used to identify the nominees and what is being witnessed is a result of the wishes of the party’s membership. He said he is a servant of his party and as a result was prepared to accept the decision of its membership.
A better Guyana
“I would like to see good and improved governance take place in an environment of peace and stability,” Green told Stabroek News yesterday. “I want to see if I can help to build a better Guyana,” he added. Green had been expelled from the PNC by former President Desmond Hoyte after the party had lost the 1992 general elections.
He said not withstanding what occurred under the Hoyte administration of which he was a part, he believed that the time has come for the people concerned with good governance and who would like to lift the tone of the society to find common ground.
In this regard he said he hoped that those who are adversely affected by corruption and bad governance are prepared to deal with a government in a way that would make them understand that “this is serious business.”
When the PNC was preparing to contest the 2001 polls it had added `Reform’ to its name and a number of persons had come on board.
Notable among them were Dr. George Norton. Eric Phillips, Stanley Ming, Artie Ricknauth and Supriya Singh. Only Dr. Norton has since remained while the others have left the party.
Yesterday Green said he did not feel that his comeback to the party was an issue. He said he always had a problem with the concept of reform saying that for him it was a dangerous conceptualization.
He pointed out that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has done a better job in this regard by adding Civic to its name which served to suggest that they had simply added and improved rather than seeking to give an impression that it had undergone a complete reform.
He contended too that the concept that when many persons join a party they bring along many followers is a myth.
Rather, he noted, what was important was the way forward and a combination of resources and experience. He added too that there was need for a change in the image of the PNC and further acknowledged that the opposition as a whole needed to up the ante on a number of issues of national importance.
Regarding the implications and issues which may arise in his position in the municipality and being an opposition executive, Green said there was much he had to think about.