Former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) leader and Opposition Leader Robert Corbin died in hospital today, aged 78.
His death was confirmed by PNCR leader Aubrey Norton, who described it as “an irreplaceable loss to our party”.
Norton said Corbin was the only person to have served as chairman of the party’s youth arm, General Secretary and later leader of the PNCR.
He credited Corbin with advancing coalition politics, pointing to the PNCR’s partnership with One Guyana, the subsequent formation of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the eventual APNU+AFC coalition, which entered government in 2015.
Norton said Corbin was a key player in efforts to bring political forces together and deserved recognition for his contribution.
Corbin, an attorney-at-law and former Deputy Prime Minister, led the PNCR from 2003 until 2012, when David Granger succeeded him.
He was married to Carol Corbin, a former chairperson of the Public Procurement Commission. His daughter, Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln, is a High Court judge.
The PNCR has issued the following statement:
THE PASSING OF ROBERT HERMAN ORLANDO CORBIN, CCH
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are saddened by the passing of it its long-serving member, former National Chairman of the Young Socialist Movement (YSM), former General Secretary and Leader of the PNCR, Mr. Robert Herman Orlando Corbin, CCH, popularly called “RHO”.
Comrade Corbin served the PNCR and Guyana with distinction as Parliamentary Secretary, Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. He was an astute, loyal, disciplined and hardworking member of the PNCR.
Comrade Corbin was a shrewd politician, an avid promoter of coalition politics that is credited with leading the PNCR into coalition politics that eventually resulted in the 2015 APNU+AFC Coalition, and its concomitant victory.
Notwithstanding his strong commitment to politics, he was able to operate in the professional realm and became a lawyer and continued to serve his Party. During his illness he continued to give advice to our Party.
Comrade Corbin’s death is an irreplaceable loss to the PNCR and he will surely be missed.
May his soul rest in peace as we continue to benefit from his lasting contributions to our Party and Guyana.
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