Dear Editor,
I am surprised by the sentimental reactions to the position taken by the AFC to rule out an alliance with the PNCR. I agree in particular with the view of my respected friend and comrade Rickford Burke that there is the need for a broad alliance with groups shelving individual differences to remove the PPP from government. What I do not agree with is the fact that there needs to be an alliance at all cost and with any group regardless of their objectives philosophy, and actions. The AFC was formed by two courageous young men who defied the concept of not betraying your party at all cost and established a modern political outfit that moved away from traditional third world politics. The AFC is right because the PNCR with Robert Corbin as its leader is short on political integrity and representation of the people.
What does the AFC and its supporters stand to gain from an alliance with the PNCR? In recent times under Mr. Corbin’s watch the PNCR has become a dysfunctional, shortsighted and visionless outfit that offers no form of representation to the people that voted for them or the wider Guyanese public. Whatever structures remain only serve to fortify the position of Mr. Corbin and his cabal that he has surrounded himself with. I am shocked that Mr. Corbin expects to be taken seriously about alliances when he has banished anyone who dares to challenge him to the political wilderness, even some of the brightest in the party. How can one trust such a person (and I deliberately didn’t refer to him as leader) that cannot facilitate opposing views within his own party?
Just examine the record of the PNCR under Corbin and the culture developed by the party since he became leader. All significant elections in the party that either challenged Mr. Corbin or his henchmen were blatantly rigged and mobbed by thugs. I was present at the 2009 Congress and it was a cardinal sin to be opposed to Corbin in any way. The rigging and intimidation was so clumsy it remains laughable but that has already been ventilated in the press.
This man has shown that he is not interested in building a party that is a credible institution that can be an alternate government, but one that will protect him as leader at all costs. Where is the PNCR when national scandals, corruption and executive lawlessness dominate our society? They respond to these safely behind the walls of Congress Place holding press conferences and issuing press releases (paper tigers true to form). So many injustices are meted out to the population on a daily basis yet we can see no militant response from the Party. When the Roger Khan saga unfolded Mr. Corbin sounded the call to take to the streets. This was around the time of the congress where his leadership was challenged and he wanted to show a militant side of him. Thirty people responded to the 2-hour ‘protest’. After the congress we didn’t hear any more calls for protests.
What is the parliamentary record of the PNCR under Corbin? Like Mr. Murray stated the party endures a lot of ‘eye pass’. The party has been unable to influence the legislative agenda of the government in any shape or form. I recall early in the days of the PPP government, they were refusing to pay the diplomats they dismissed. Mr. Hoyte kept that issue on the political front burner at every opportunity. He was able through skillful negotiation and political action to get the government to bring a bill to the parliament to effect that payment. The point here is that in parliament, the PNCR under Mr. Hoyte wasn’t used by the PPP for their narrow political objectives. Mr. Hoyte never met with any of the PPP leaders or presidents unless there was a substantial issue of national importance to be discussed. Today Mr. Jagdeo picks and chooses the minor issues to discuss with Mr. Corbin giving the PPP their photo and press opportunities at his and the PNCR’s expense. The present PNCR has made no achievement or impact on the lives of ordinary Guyanese by their presence in the parliament; they simply give legitimacy to the actions of the government.
In sum total the PNCR has been reduced to an undemocratic, impotent and visionless political ensemble. Whatever remains of the great party built by the founder leader is used to pursue critics of Mr. Corbin and focus on his preservation rather than national issues. Its electoral performance worsens consistently. In 2001 the PNCR won 166 090 votes “(27 seats) and in 2006 the party won 114 608 votes (22 seats). Anyone can see that this trend will continue in the next election with the party doing nothing to broaden its support base and attract new members. Mr. Corbin is not politically attractive to the electorate and he knows that. The party says that he will not be the presidential candidate but they have failed to say what his role will be. The history of the PNCR ties the leader and the presidential candidate as one. Could the party categorically state what will his role be? Unless he completely removes himself from the process this grey area will remain a source of concern to the electorate and any possible alliance partner.
Then what does the AFC stand to gain from an alliance with a party with such a dismal record? The role of the AFC is to strive for the creation of a new political dispensation, with openness, transparency, integrity, and equity as its watchwords. In terms of coalition politics the AFC needs to form alliances with likeminded organizations. I would like to know how are they likeminded with the PNCR? How can they further achieve these ethoses with a PNCR alliance? Those who disagree with the party’s position must call on the PNCR to address their issues so that it can be an attractive coalition partner. Do not divert attention from the issues that affect the viability and political integrity of the PNCR. One may argue that the AFC is not as popular and may need the political muscle of the PNCR? Where is that muscle? When last have we seen a mass gathering of the PNCR? Any party of consequence must be able to summon the troops and have a mass showing of its people strength and support. We wait.
Yours faithfully,
Jerrick Rutherford
