Dear Editor,
Reference is made to Emile Mervin’s letter ‘In Guyana politics never rule anything in or out’ (SN, January 9). In this letter Mr Mervin claims that a retirement package awaits Mr Robert Corbin as Leader of the Opposition. This is not true. There is no special retirement package for the Leader of the Opposition and it is unfortunate that Mervin has told the nation so. Mr Corbin, were he to retire from the National Assembly today, would enjoy the same benefits as the AFC members of parliament.
The Leader of the Opposition is a constitutional position voted for by opposition members in the National Assembly.
As of now Mr Corbin holds that position. Also, it does not prevent any member of the AFC from holding that position should the opposition members vote him or her to be the leader.
It may help if Mr Mervin could inform the nation if the AFC voted against the Leader of the Opposition Bill and the President’s retirement package.
Also, if Mr Mervin is displeased with both or either bill he should ask the AFC to take parliamentary action to change them. It would also help if he advised the public as to why the AFC has a voting record that strongly supports the PPP, even giving support to ignoring the rights of others as seen with the Public Service Commission fiasco. The public would love to hear from Mr Mervin on these issues.
PNC members elect their leaders, and while some may not like who the members elect that is our choice and we will not let anyone take that right away from us. While many in society do not like the AFC leaders, I will defend the right of the AFC members to choose their leaders, and I am sure Mr Mervin and I can find common ground here. That is democracy and if it can be respected in the AFC so too it must be respected in the PNC and every institution whose members identify their leaders in this way.
If Mr Mervin has information about a Corbin and Jagdeo partnership, or the PNC having some shared governance deal with the PPP he should come out and state what he knows.
The PNC will not be caught up in any unnecessary back and forth with AFC members or supporters to make it a contest between the two, and take attention away from the poor PPP record.
The people are already going through too much to engage in petty politics of this kind.
The 2011 general elections present the opportunity for the people to bring an end to the daily sufferings under an uncaring PPP government which continues to run roughshod over them. Voters are urged not to be distracted by inaccuracies and pettiness that have become the modus operandi of self-seekers and those who want to use them to serve their interests and not serve them. Voters are the ones who have the power in their hands to stop the decline and PPP mismanage-ment. They should make the change on election day.
Yours faithfully,
B Beniprashad Rayman
PNCR Executive
Member
