FORMER Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Mr. Robert Corbin, has said the arguments that recently surfaced in relation to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have been designed to satisfy certain agendas. He made the statement during his address at the just concluded 17th biennial congress of the party, held at Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, when alluding to the contention that the PNCR wanted to be seen as the dominant figure in the grouping.
Corbin said he is obliged to set the record straight, since the development of the partnership and the involvement of the PNCR took place under his watch.
According to him, APNU was established with the support of the initiative by his party, and members should not allow themselves to be deluded of the reality.
Making his final opening speech to a PNCR Congress as its Leader, he said on Friday that APNU is not a political party, but a partnership of several political parties and civic organisations.

Very clear
He reminded that APNU, in its first press statement on July 24, 2011, was very clear on the subject, and that it was after his party had endorsed the Statement of Principles that it was given wide publicity.
The outgoing PNCR leader said it needed to be made clear that APNU was made possible by the PNCR, and that without the latter, the new grouping would have been something else.
In his prepared remarks, Corbin said it was, and still remains, the PNCR that facilitates the real nationwide campaign; and it is the PNCR’s machinery that continues to service APNU in large measures.
He declared it would take a strong, dynamic PNCR to maintain a strong and vibrant APNU; while a successful APNU is essential for the PNCR’s objective of shared governance and a government of national unity to be achieved.
Addressing some of the challenges of the partnership, Corbin said that, having succeeded in changing the political dynamics in the country, the real issues for the fledging partnership has only now really surfaced.
He said it must be made clear that mistakes will happen, but it is how those are corrected and how much are learnt from them that will really define the future of the partnership.

Budget Debates
He said there are lessons that can be learnt from other countries of the world as it relates to partnerships, and the budget debates have surely prepared the partnership to deal with the many other challenges that will come its way in the future.
Corbin said one of the major challenges for APNU will be to fulfill the high expectations of so many Guyanese who supported the partnership at the last elections held in 2011.
He said it was already a difficult task satisfying the few who were privileged to be candidates for the partnership at the last elections, and the issue of the electricity tariff increase at Linden underscores the need for the partnership to be in constant contact and consultation with the masses.
Corbin said unconstructive criticism will not resolve differences within the party or the partnership.
The response by Guyanese people to the partnership, and their subsequent voting at the last elections, was encouraging and reflected the universal need for there to be change in the political system in Guyana.
He said that while the partnership may not have achieved all of its objectives, it would have at least dispelled and shattered the myth that existed for years that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was invincible.
However, there is still much more that needs to be done before all Guyanese can be proud to call Guyana their homeland.

Must interface
Corbin said that, despite the opinions, it is through APNU that the PNCR must interface with the nation at the parliamentary level; and through APNU, the PNCR’s plans for reform of government must take place.
He maintained that it was necessary for the symbolic relationship between the PNCR and APNU to be given serious consideration.
As such, Corbin added, the party’s representatives in APNU and Parliament must have the confidence of the party, and be supported by it, should the objectives of the PNCR be achieved.
It is therefore necessary for those members to pontificate on the best possible arrangement for this to be achieved, and he reiterated that a strong and dynamic PNCR is necessary and essential for the objectives of APNU to be accomplished.
“The situation therefore requires careful analysis, detailed planning, meaningful consultation, perfect dedication, commitment, and loyalty in implementing those agreed programmes. As to the future, it is for the partners of APNU to determine; and as a partner, the PNCR must contribute to the discussion on how they wish to see APNU evolve,” Corbin stated.
He also stated that anyone who is knowledgeable of the history of the PNCR, or who has been involved in shaping its destiny, should not be surprised or confused by the establishment of APNU.
It is the logical development of the party’s historical mission to continually form alliances for the achievement of its objectives, he contended.