TWO days before leader of the Peoples National Congress Reform Robert Corbin is replaced by a new elected leader of the party, he urged delegates to the 12th biannual congress of the party to ensure that they focus on the issues that need to be addressed rather than attacking each other. Mr. Corbin last evening warned that such actions can come back to hurt the party and its progress, and reminded delegates that the aim of the congress is to find ways of developing the party in all areas and ensuring that all shortcomings are addressed.
According to him, this particular congress is most important as it comes on the heels of the elections of 2011 that determined that the National Assembly is no longer controlled by one party, and as such there must be consultations.
He said that the congress must also be seen as the only congress where for the first time in the party’s history there are moves to elect a leader in the lifetime of the current leader. In the past, the PNCR has elected its leaders in the persons of Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte after the death of the party’s founder-leader and sitting president Linden Forbes Samson Burnham in 1985. In 2003, the party again elected another leader this time in the person of Robert Corbin after its leader Hugh Desmond Hoyte passed away in 2002.
Tomorrow the party will be electing a new leader in the person of either retired army brigadier and current leader of the parliamentary opposition, David Granger, or former Finance Minister in the PNCR government and present point man in the opposition benches for  APNU on finance, Carl Greenidge.
Mr. Corbin who deviated from his prepared speech a few times said that this is a time for the party to check itself, refine itself and rejuvenate and strengthen itself. He commended the young people of the party who single-handedly organised and is spearheading the party’s 12th congress. He explained that his decision not to run for the office of the leader of the opposition is to allow the young people to steer the party.
Meanwhile addressing the opening of the congress also was chairman of the party, Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop. In his address he spent much time addressing what he described as the unhealthy manner in which the PPP administration has been running the nation for the past 20 years.
Ramsaroop told those gathered that the birth of A Partnership for National Unity and the subsequent acquisition of the parliamentary majority in the National Assembly mean that the National Assembly can no longer operate as the PPP sees fit.
The party chairman said that, at the moment, the PPP is a wounded animal and that makes it even more dangerous as it becomes frightened as it stares death in the face. He said that the PPP is well aware of the fact that it is falling, and as such it is fighting a very tough battle and will fight tooth and nail to win the battle.
Today the general secretary of the party is expected to address the congress, while delegates will make their speeches on behalf of their respective districts. Tomorrow the Peoples National Congress Reform will be voting in their new executive members as is constitutionally mandated.