…will meet with PPPThe main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) recently embroiled in a fight over leadership, says it will go into talks with the ruling party on a system on shared governance before next year’s general elections.“The PNCR believes that in the interest of progress in Guyana a system of shared Governance should be discussed among all stakeholders and implemented before the 2011 National and Regional Elections,” Opposition Leader Robert Corbin said yesterday.Corbin has faced several tests of his leadership of the party, being challenged at the past two congresses of the party. Several senior members of the party have left, expressing disappointment.The biggest blow came when party stalwart and Chairman Winston Murray resigned and challenged Corbin for the leadership post at the party’s last congress.Corbin said, yesterday, that his proposal of shared governance is not an arrangement to determine the President and Prime Minister.In any event, he said there can be no discussion of changing the Constitution to extend Presidential term limits.“Let me repeat for emphasis, there will be no discussion of changing the Constitution to give (President) Jagdeo or anyone else extended Presidential term limits,” Corbin declared.Rather, he said that his proposal for a system of shared governance should ensure constitutional changes “that would eliminate the dictatorial tendencies that have resulted from the Westminster Winner-take-all system and that have stultified development in Guyana.” The party said that it will therefore be engaged in a series of consultations with all stakeholders, including the ruling People’s Progressive Party “with a view to ensuring that this matter is given priority attention.”Meanwhile, the party,NCAA Football Jerseys, at its weekly press conference, explained its approach to the forthcoming Local Government and National Elections.At the last Local Government elections held in 1994, the PNCR only contested elections in the six Towns as a party and encouraged and supported community groups to participate.The party said this approach encouraged participation in community affairs by citizens who were not necessarily involved in any political party but who were concerned with the development of their community. Regrettably, the PNCR said that the domineering and dictatorial approach by the Minister of Local Government frustrated many of these groups from implementing plans that they had developed for the benefit of the residents there.The prolonged delay in the holding of Local Government Elections also contributed to many of these Councils becoming dysfunctional, the party stated. “It is hoped that the reformed Local Government System will motivate citizens, give meaning to a decentralised system of decision-making, and give meaning to Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution,” the party stated.The PNCR said that it will continue to expand on its initiative of 1994 and will work to involve these citizens in the local Government electoral process.The Party has already begun consulting citizens who are not necessarily party members to be involved in the forthcoming elections.While the Party will be identifying lists of Candidates to contest, it will also support individuals and groups where appropriate in areas where it is satisfied that those interested persons have the welfare of the citizens at heart.“This will be in keeping with the Party’s embrace of shared Governance, which can begin at the Community level. The same approach will be adopted with the proposed Elections of 2011,” the PNCR stated.
