In paid full-page newspaper advertisements on Sunday, Grace Bovell, Jimmy Newark, Lloyd Hunte and Lethan Rutherford, who sign on behalf of 25 PNCR members, criticised Corbin for his New Year message, suggesting that he is “openly” seeking favours from the PPP administration while ignoring abuses for which they blame the government. “PNCR members must recognise that Corbin is bad news,” the group said, adding that he should resign “and afford the PNCR the opportunity to genuinely oppose the PPP dictator and vote them out of office.”
Corbin, when approached for comment on the ad, told Stabroek News that he had only seen it yesterday. He said he was unprepared to discuss it. “We have very important matters right now to deal with,” he added. PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke, meanwhile, did not want to comment on the issue, but noted that the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) had endorsed the leader’s New Year message.
In the ad, titled “Corbin wishes the PPP oppressors the best; ignores the members and supporters of the PNCR,” the group targets party members and supporters. “We wish to let them know they (sic) are still those who hold sacred the principle and values which have guided this great party,” the text reads, “As you know[,] most of us and a significant section of the Guyanese population have been concerned for some time now about the direction of Mr. Corbin’s leadership. We have held our hand in the interest of the well-being of the party. We can no longer do so. Mr Corbin has crossed the lines with his self-serving New Year Message.”
According to the group, Corbin’s message departed from the PNCR’s stand and it was critical of the New Year wishes extended to President Bharrat Jagdeo, Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best, Police Commissioner Henry Greene and the PPP leadership, noting what it dubbed the “atrocities” committed under their watch. On the latter point, the group cited the torture of a teen boy in police custody as well as alleged collaboration between the administration and convicted drug kingpin Roger Khan. At the same time, it noted that while extending New Year wishes, Corbin failed to acknowledge his own staff as well as members and supporters of the party. “This is disgraceful and disrespectful,” it declared, while arguing that the Guyanese people must question Corbin’s ability to function as both leader of his party and the opposition.
In his New Year address to the nation, Corbin did note “various trials and tribulations” over the last year, including what he described as a worsening executive lawlessness, a lack of transparency, corruption, growing scandals, the disregard for the rule of law, the interference with the independence of the judiciary and harassment and victimisation of opponents of the government. He also noted escalating human rights abuses, citing the increasing use of torture by the police and army as well as the alleged collaboration between the government and Khan in the murder of citizens.
Although Corbin observed that the predictions for the year are not promising, he emphasised optimism, dubbing 2010 the “year of opportunity,” in the context of correct ills facing the country and removing fundamental obstacles to development and national harmony. To this end, he reiterated the PNCR’s call for a change in the governance system, towards a “shared” or “inclusive” system, warning that unless the fundamental issues that affect the country are addressed, the downward spiral would continue.
