PNCR Leader Robert Corbin has described the party’s town hall-style public meetings as hugely successful and based on the suggestions from the nominees the meetings could be extended before the Special Congress later this month.
Corbin yesterday also accused the ruling party of mischief, saying that it is seeking to create distractions about the PNCR’s nomination process using the state media. “…The PPP is upset with the success of the primary process of the PNCR,” he told reporters at the party’s weekly press briefing.
The party is satisfied with the manner in which the nominees have been conducting their campaigns, he said, noting that democracy is alive and well in the PNCR.
Corbin, flanked by two of the party’s nominees, was asked whether he is ready to say publicly where his support lies given varying reports about him initially endorsing David Granger and now, Carl Greenidge. “I have a democratic right to vote for a candidate – My name is not President Jagdeo, it is Robert Corbin – and I will exercise that right at the Congress,” he said.
The PNCR reported yesterday that plans for Special Congress on February 26, when its presidential candidate would be named, are moving apace. However, they are awaiting the submission of delegates and observers from the various groups.
To date, various sub-committees responsible for managing the various activities of the Congress, including the Accreditation of Delegates, have been approved by the Central Executive Committee, party member, Amna Ally said yesterday.
Ally said that party will hold a special press briefing shortly on the arrangements for this Congress and the media will have an opportunity to grill them on the Congress. She also condemned the ruling party for abusing the state media to publish false information about the status of the PNCR presidential nomination process and its nominees.
Ally said too that the wide participation of Guyanese at the town hall meetings “clearly illustrate that citizens are motivated by this primary process introduced by the PNCR.”
Nominees James Bond and Carl Greenidge were present at the press briefing yesterday and Corbin explained that their participation is all part of a familiarization process with that aspect of the party’s work. The nominees fielded questions and both were asked to comment on the primary-style nomination process.
Greenidge seized the opportunity to declare that the majority of attendees at the town hall meetings across the country are not PNCR party members and he praised the “candidness and enthusiasm” of the public so far.
For him, the process has been instructive and interesting. “What we have seen is that in many instances the majority of the attendees are not party members at all and the majority of the questions coming from the public are both penetrative and candid…often critical and usually, I think, constructive,” he said.
Greenidge added that communities have drawn to the party’s attention their respective concerns and he opined that those who intend to hold high office ought to beattentive and listen “since this informs attitude and policy.” He added, “We’ve been able to see across the country common preoccupations, including joblessness and poverty. The intensity with which those concerns have been brought to us by the public is important.” He said too that uniformed concerns have been about governance and lawlessness.
Relating his experience, Bond said that it has been exciting and he has enjoyed it, while noting that the process brings “deeper democracy” and allows citizens across the country to get involved. “Every person has a chance to be part of this experience,” he said.
Meanwhile, Greenidge spoke of the failure of civil society in keeping government in check. This was in response to a question posed on the involvement of civil actors in the society. He referred to Jamaica and Barbados, while noting that it is civil society action which keeps governments honest.
