In another panel discussion on the National Communications Network last evening, entitled “Guarding against Political Adventurism”, it was stressed that the actions of People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) leader, Robert Corbin, set a bad example to Guyanese, and were not in the interest of the country. According to Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, his actions are those of ‘a drowning man clutching at straws’.

The other participants on the panel were Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn, and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr Frank Anthony.

The discussion centred on the actions of Corbin in the National Assembly on July 30, when he threw down laws books and stormed out of the Chambers after the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, refused to allow the motion he had tabled to be discussed.

Minister Rohee explained that the PNCR’s motion was not dismissed based on merits, but rather on procedural grounds, and the Speaker of the National Assembly had given guidance on how such a motion could proceed in the future.

However, Corbin seemed to have decided to go down a particular path, the Home Affairs Minister stated, and in so doing, set a very poor example to Guyanese.

By throwing down the law books, he was saying that the laws did not mean anything.

Minister Anthony reiterated the position of the Home Affairs Minister, asking if Corbin’s actions signified that he did not have confidence in the laws of Guyana or more significantly, if he intended to disrespect those laws.

Minister Benn registered his disappointment in his parliamentary colleagues in the opposition, noting that their actions threaten to derail the significant progress that has been made in the National Assembly over the past few years.

He pointed out that the opposition does not want to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at developing Guyana, but are more inclined to creating mischief.

The Ministers all restated the position of their colleagues, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira and Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon, who, in a similar panel discussion on August 1, had stated that the opposition parties, the PNCR and the Alliance for Change (AFC), are competing for the leadership mantle of the opposition movement.

However, it was added that Guyanese appear to be savvy to the cunning of the parties, and have mainly refrained from getting involved in the extra-parliamentary actions, especially yesterday’s protest march by the PNCR.

Minister Rohee also stated that the actions of Corbin have nothing to do with the best interests of the country, but rather are in the opposition leader’s interest. He likened him to Robert Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier”, who, according to the lyrics of the popular song, is fighting for survival.

He stressed that Corbin’s shenanigans are an expression of his desire to maintain leadership of the PNCR and further his personal political agenda.