Can we trust Mr. Corbin to lead an effective struggle?

Aug 17, 2009 Letters

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Dear Editor,

As PNC elections for leadership draws near, Mr. Corbin is doing just as the PPP did as evidence unfold in the US court with Robert Siemels.

Many hold the view that the latter is responsible for burning the Ministry of Health building to distract people from the court rulings and whip up support and sympathy for the government. Mr. Corbin on the other hand is using this opportunity to engage in protests and actions geared to resurrect confidence in his leadership and have party members feel invigorated by the strength he is showing. His efforts place those who challenge him at a disadvantage.

The big question is can supporters and members trust Mr. Corbin who has a questionable tract record of undermining the strength and artillery of the PNC to withstand PPP aggression. Can supporters of the PNC believe and trust Mr. Corbin in light of his behavior as relates to measures that serve to strengthen the PPP. How can any General, seriously fighting an enemy, allow the enemy to use his own soldiers and his barracks to launch attacks against his own people…as in the case of Corbin’s GLU and the ‘PPP’ FITUG?

Where does Corbin’s union, the legacy handed him by Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte stand on matters surfacing from the Roger Khan’s unfolding case? Where does this PPP brand of FITUG ( NB. a new outfit bearing the same name but not the FITUG of George Daniels) stand on the evidence of government supportive criminality unfolding in the US courts? Where does assumed PNC supporter/PPP, Carvil Duncan stand?

We know where the GTUC stands but we do not know where the union of Burnham, Hoyte and Corbin stands and the PPP/FITUG stand on the evidence unfolding in the US courts? We know where the labour arm of the PPP is and they have not only broadened its base, they are using former PNC base with Corbin’s support to effectively continue their support of the PPP.

How can PNC members and supporters trust Mr. Corbin when he has his soldiers fighting with the PPP to undermine any opposition against the PPP, and to aid the PPP government’s image of having a consultative relationship and approval of policies with labour as a social partner?

This is what GLU and Duncan aided by Mr. Corbin is doing in the ‘PPP’ FITUG. Mr. Corbin has and is in effect straddling the political divide, posing as an opposition while sharing his base with the PPP. In the case of the GLU, we must remember that he was still a member as GLU became the main voice of FITUG representing the PPP’s interest.

Carvil Duncan through the ‘PPP’ FITUG was very quick to pronounce on the report by Ms. Gay McDougal, the UN Minority Expert on Race Relations, and echo sentiments similar to the PPP.

SN reports the ‘PPP’ FITUG saying that the document “is objectionable and offensive to all fair-minded Guyanese and divisive in its conclusions”. According to SN these were said by ‘PPP’ FITUG to be “flawed and based on inadequate consultations.”

FITUG declared that the “perceived ethnic polarization being bandied by the expert is a product of either her own imagination or a willing acceptance of misinformation by well-known prophets of doom only too willing to see actual upheavals . . .”

Today the voices in the ‘PPP’ FITUG are silent. PNC ‘loyalist’ and Corbin’s pal Carvil Duncan heads the ‘PPP’ FITUG. There is no call for human rights and justice.

In 2008 -Mr. Corbin boycotted CARIFESTA and prior to the boycott he promised street protest until the under-mentioned were met by the Jagdeo government.

· an immediate end to the suspension of the license of CNS TV Channel 6;

· an end to the violation of the human rights of Guyanese;

· the release of former army officer Oliver Hinckson incarcerated on “unsustainable charges”;

· an immediate short term programme to address the impact of the rising cost of living;

· real progress in addressing the deteriorating security situation;

· enactment of broadcast legislation to end political control over the media and to establish an independent national broadcasting authority;

· equitable access by the parliamentary opposition parties to the state-owned media;

· and an end to the monopoly on radio.

Most of the critical demands were not met and during the CARIFESTA period Mr. Corbin flew to New York and that was the PNC struggle. Mission Unaccomplished!

– 2007- VAT had the potential of a national struggle. This effort died shortly after it started. Mission Unaccomplished!

So why and how can we trust Mr. Corbin’s leadership now, whether it is the recent Roger Khan saga or continued efforts even after Khan would have been sentenced ,to hold this government accountable to good governance? The sad truth is we cannot, so Guyanese need to be wary and watch Corbin’s protest move like the proverbial hawk and not be fooled by the horns he appears to have. If we cannot trust him to be an effective leader against Jagdeo and the PPP government, then it follows that we members cannot trust him to lead the main opposition party. Too much is at stake here.

Mr. Corbin ‘s opportunistic vibrancy may be more orchestrated to winning the leadership struggle in the PNC to continue his ‘cozy consensus’ with the PPP and not to preserve human rights, justice and the legacy of the PNC, Burnham and Hoyte.

Debra

 

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