Robert Corbin
Encyclopedia
Robert Herman Orlando Corbin is a Guyanese
politician who is the leader of the opposition People's National Congress
(PNC).
Born in Linden, Guyana
, Corbin worked for the Youth Ministry of the Presbyterian Church before being educated in social work
and law
at the University of Guyana
and the Hugh Wooding Law School. He worked as a social worker from 1966 to 1977 and during this time joined the PNC youth arm, the Young Socialist Movement before taking up a seat on the party's Central Executive Committee.
Corbin, who was first elected to the National Assembly of Guyana
in 1973, became one of the leading lights in the PNC, serving the party as Senior Vice Chairman and General Secretary as well as holding a number of government ministries, including the office of Deputy Prime Minister from 1985 to 1992. Elected PNC chairman in 2000 and retained in the role in 2002 he was chosen to lead the party in 2003 following the death of Desmond Hoyte
.
A disappointing defeat for the PNC in the 2006 legislative elections
saw Corbin's leadership come under scrutiny, although ultimately his two prospective challengers withdrew before a contest could be organised and his leadership was affirmed.
Corbin, who is married with five grown-up children, continues to practice as an attorney-at-law. He is also the younger brother of singer and actor Sol Raye
.
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
politician who is the leader of the opposition People's National Congress
People's National Congress
The People's National Congress is a socialist political party in Guyana led by Robert Corbin. The party currently holds 22 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly.-History:...
(PNC).
Born in Linden, Guyana
Linden, Guyana
Linden is the second largest town in Guyana after Georgetown, and capital of the Upper Demerara-Berbice region, located at , altitude 48 metres . It was declared a town in 1970, and includes the communities of MacKenzie and Wismar. It lies on the Demerara River and has a population of roughly...
, Corbin worked for the Youth Ministry of the Presbyterian Church before being educated in social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
and law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the University of Guyana
University of Guyana
The University of Guyana, in Georgetown, Guyana is a public university established in 1963 by the Guyanese government.-History:Cheddi Jagan, then Premier of British Guiana considered that the University of the West Indies, to which his government had contributed since 1948, was not meeting the...
and the Hugh Wooding Law School. He worked as a social worker from 1966 to 1977 and during this time joined the PNC youth arm, the Young Socialist Movement before taking up a seat on the party's Central Executive Committee.
Corbin, who was first elected to the National Assembly of Guyana
National Assembly of Guyana
The National Assembly is the parliament of Guyana. It has 65 members, 53 members elected for a five-year term by proportional representation and 12 members delegated by local government councils...
in 1973, became one of the leading lights in the PNC, serving the party as Senior Vice Chairman and General Secretary as well as holding a number of government ministries, including the office of Deputy Prime Minister from 1985 to 1992. Elected PNC chairman in 2000 and retained in the role in 2002 he was chosen to lead the party in 2003 following the death of Desmond Hoyte
Desmond Hoyte
Hugh Desmond Hoyte was a Guyanese politician. He served as Prime Minister of Guyana from 1984 to 1985 and President of Guyana from 1985 until 1992.He was born in Guyana's capital, Georgetown...
.
A disappointing defeat for the PNC in the 2006 legislative elections
Guyanese legislative election, 2006
The 2006 Guyanese legislative election took place in Guyana on 28 August 2006.-Campaign:The People's Progressive Party of incumbent President Bharrat Jagdeo was ahead in the opinion polls and was expected to keep its majority in the National Assembly of Guyana....
saw Corbin's leadership come under scrutiny, although ultimately his two prospective challengers withdrew before a contest could be organised and his leadership was affirmed.
Corbin, who is married with five grown-up children, continues to practice as an attorney-at-law. He is also the younger brother of singer and actor Sol Raye
Sol Raye
Neville Marshall-Corbin was a Guyanese cabaret singer, composer and recording artist who moved to England in the 1960s and originally studied acting, performing with the English Stage Company. He was born in Christianburg, Guyana....
.