Former President David Granger has paid tribute to former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) leader Robert Herman Orlando Corbin, describing his six decades of political and parliamentary service as a significant contribution to Guyana’s political development.
Corbin, who died on October 4, 2026, at age 78, served as a parliamentarian, government minister, Deputy Prime Minister, PNCR General Secretary, Chairman and Leader, as well as Leader of the Opposition.
In a statement issued following Corbin’s death, Granger said Corbin “markedly emphasised the role of coalition politics,” while contributing to the development of the PNC and parliamentary debate.
“Robert Herman Orlando Corbin, who died at the age of 78 on 4th October, markedly emphasised the role of coalition politics, enhanced the development of the People’s National Congress and enriched the deliberations of the National Assembly through personal endeavor and political prowess during six decades of political and parliamentary service.”
Granger described Corbin as an “extraordinary politician” whose involvement in the PNC began while he was still a teenager.
Corbin rose through the ranks of the Young Socialist Movement, eventually becoming National Chairman. He later served as General Secretary and elected the leadership of the PNCR in February 2003, following the death of Desmond Hoyte. He remained party leader until 2012.
During the PNC administration between 1985 and 1992, Corbin held several ministerial portfolios before becoming Deputy Prime Minister.
Granger noted that Corbin inherited a party that had suffered a series of electoral defeats and internal divisions, including the emergence of the Good and Green Guyana party following the PNC’s 1991 Congress.
He said Corbin served as Chairman in 2000 before assuming the leadership and becoming Leader of the Opposition in 2003.
Corbin’s defeat at the 2006 General and Regional Elections, Granger said, contributed to his decision to pursue reforms within the party.
As PNC leader, Corbin adopted the reform agenda associated with Hoyte, including the concepts of inclusive democracy, power-sharing and shared governance.
Granger recalled Corbin’s 2004 address to the PNC’s 14th Congress, in which he called for the party to:
“…close the pages of the past…”
However, internal differences persisted, eventually contributing to further political divisions and the formation of the Alliance For Change (AFC).
Granger said Corbin responded with two significant political decisions: introducing a primary process to select the party’s presidential candidate and deciding not to seek re-election as PNC leader.
He also credited Corbin with helping to establish the PNCR-One Guyana partnership, which was expanded into A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in July 2011.
The APNU subsequently entered into a coalition with the AFC, leading to the formation of the APNU+AFC administration following the 2015 elections.
Corbin later served as Political Adviser to President Granger throughout the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration and was awarded the Cacique’s Crown of Honour for his public service.
“Robert Corbin bequeathed a rich legacy of exemplary service to the PNC. He was appointed Political Adviser to President David Granger throughout the APNU+AFC’s tenure of office and was awarded the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH) for his sterling service.”
Granger said Corbin devoted his energy and experience to the advancement of the PNC and the political partnership.
He extended condolences to Corbin’s widow, Carol, and his children.
“On behalf of my wife and myself, I offer condolences to his widow Carol, and to his children during their time of bereavement.”
Robert Corbin, 15th February 1948-4th October 2026Robert Herman Orlando Corbin, who died at the age of 78 on 4th October, markedly emphasised the role of coalition politics, enhanced the development of the People’s National Congress and enriched the deliberations of the National Assembly through personal endeavor and political prowess during six decades of political and parliamentary service.Robert Corbin was an extraordinary politician whose membership of the People’s National Congress began when he was a mere teenager. He rose through the ranks of the Young Socialist Movement, serving finally as National Chairman. Later, he served as General Secretary and leader of the PNC in February 2003 until he relinquished the leadership in 2012. During the time of the PNC government from 1985 to 1992, he held several ministerial portfolios and eventually rose to the position of Deputy Prime Minister.
As PNC Leader from 2003, Robert Corbin’s tenure followed three successive defeats by his predecessor at the General and Regional Elections in 1992, 1997 and 2001 He was left to inherit an organisation which had been ruptured after the 9th Congress in 1991 and the subsequent defection of dissidents who established the Good and Green Guyana (GGG) party. He resolutely served the damaged party as Chairman in 2000 and, following the death of Desmond Hoyte in 2002, as Leader on 1st February 2003 and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. His own defeat in 2006 general elections contributed to his resolve to adopt reforms.
As PNC Leader, Robert Corbin adopted of ‘reform’ which Desmond Hoyte promulgated at the 13th Congress − addressing the concepts of inclusive democracy, power-sharing or shared governance as “…an idea whose time has come”. But Mr. Corbin had to confront real differences between the traditional ‘left wing’ and the new ‘right wing’ reform. Robert Corbin’s address to the 14th Congress in 2004 Party that sought to “…close the pages of the past…” was not enough to repair two decades of past damage.
Differences became deep divisions and another group of dissidents defected to establish the Alliance For Change (AFC) party. Corbin was unable to stop the formation of the AFC; the alienation of the Guyana Labour Union (GLU); the surging factionalism and the perception that the ‘Vlissengen Dialogue’ with President Bharrat Jagdeo was incapable of stanching the bloodletting of the ‘Troubles’ in which young people were being killed.
At this stage, Robert Corbin made two innovative and consequential decisions – first, to introduce a primary process to nominate the party’s presidential candidate and not to seek re-election as Leader; and, second, to build an electoral vehicle called PNCR-One Guyana partnership (PNCR-1G) which was enlarged to A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) in July 2011. Mr. Corbin remained at PNC Leader until 2012. The new Partnership formed a Coalition with the AFC that resulted in the installation of the APNU+AFC administration in 2015.
Robert Corbin bequeathed a rich legacy of exemplary service to the PNC. He was appointed Political Adviser to President David Granger throughout the APNU+AFC’s tenure of office and was awarded the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH) for his sterling service. Throughout his public life, he tirelessly employed his energy and experience to ensuring the success of the Party and Partnership.
On behalf of my wife and myself, I offer condolences to his widow Carol, and to his children during their time of bereavement.
Fmr President David Granger (APNU+AFC)
