'Not too bothered' -- Corbin on leadership challenge
By Mark Ramotar
Guyana Chronicle
May 3, 2007
LEADER of the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Mr. Robert Corbin is “not too bothered” about the challenge to his leadership, saying that is a matter which will be “dealt with” at the party’s congress in August.
Reports are that former PNCR chairman Mr. Vincent Alexander has offered himself as a candidate for the post of leader of the party at its Biennial Congress.
Asked by reporters Tuesday to comment on the leadership challenge, Corbin downplayed the issue saying the question of leadership “is not a major issue” and urged party members not to be “distracted with a matter that can be settled in an hour or two when the party membership meets in August.”
&I have already dealt with that issue in the media (and) that is a matter we will deal with in August but as I said clearly before, I am not bothered about that.”
It just shows that the party’s democracy is alive,” said Corbin, also Opposition Leader.
Corbin said his party has to deal with more important issues at this time such as local government elections, the freedom of treason accused Mark Benschop, and the question of the mass media in Guyana.
&Those are the issues we have to deal with at the moment; the question of leadership is not a major issue; it is one which will be dealt with by the party and its leadership and I would like the membership of the PNC to focus on the real cause at this time and not be distracted with a matter that can be settled in an hour or two when the party membership meets in August.”
Over the weekend, the PNCR issued a press statement in which it described as unfortunate, an earlier public statement by some members of its Executive Committee on their intention to support a candidate to contest the leadership position at the party’s upcoming Congress.
The party said it noted the press release from some members of its Central Executive Committee that they met the Leader, Chairman and General Secretary and indicated their intention to support a candidate to contest the position of Leader at the forthcoming congress.
&The PNCR wishes to reiterate that the democratic process has always been alive within the party and all offices of the party are subject to elections at the party’s congress. The constitutional procedure is that party groups nominate candidates for the various offices at the appropriate time and the candidates are required to indicate whether they accept nomination”, the statement said.
Thereafter, it said, delegates to the congress vote by secret ballot for the candidates of their choice.
&These constitutional rules are well known to all members of the party and this process, which has not yet commenced for the upcoming congress, has been routinely followed throughout the party’s existence.
Members and candidates are also free to visit party groups to express their opinions on various issues and this has always been the practice, particularly at the time of Congress. The position of Leader has also been contested at previous congresses including the most recently held Biennial Congress in 2004.
It is, therefore, most unfortunate that, before the commencement of this process, this group has chosen to publicise what is essentially an internal party matter, notwithstanding informed advice given to them that this action would be inimical to the party’s best interest at this time.
This matter has already been discussed by the Central Executive Committee and will be fully ventilated at a previously planned retreat to be held shortly”, the PNCR said.