Robert Corbin reiterates that he’s not interested in elected, public offices

Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 August 2016, 15:20 by Denis Chabrol

Former Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Robert Corbin on Monday said he would continue to support his political party in the background but e again ruled out seeking public or elected office.

“I’m not running for any office. I didn’t run at the last congress,” he told Demerara Waves Online News. “My job is to give service to the party and the country at this point in time,” said Corbin, now a practicing Attorney-at-Law.

Corbin made known his position hours after party General Secretary, Oscar Clarke announced that he  was nominated for the post of PNCR Chairman, a post that is effectively deputy party leader. The election of a new executive would be held at the party’s congress slated for later this month.

When contacted, the former Opposition Leader who bowed out of active politics about five years ago, maintained his original position that he would not be seeking public or party office again. Instead, he said he was available to serve as a co-opted member on the Central Executive of the 59-year old party, or part of a structure in which former leaders would automatically be ex-officio members of the decision-making body.

“My role now is to continue to give service, advice and any consulting that they may need,” said Corbin, a long-serving PNCR member and former Deputy Prime Minister of Guyana up to the time the PNC lost power in 1992.

Incumbent PNCR Chairman, Basil Williams remarked earlier Wednesday that if Corbin had decided to accept nomination for the post of party Chairman, it would be “licks for Williams.”

Corbin is still widely regarded as a quietly influential person in the political landscape of the PNCR.