Former Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and former Opposition Leader Robert Herman Orlando Corbin died on Sunday, bringing to a close a political career that spanned more than four decades and saw him serve at some of the highest levels of government and opposition politics in Guyana.
Corbin died at a city hospital following a period of illness. His brother, Charles Corbin, confirmed his passing.
Born on February 15, 1948, in Linden, Corbin was 78. He became one of the longest-serving and most recognisable figures in the history of the PNC and later the PNCR, serving as a parliamentarian, government minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and eventually leader of the party.
His political involvement began while he was still a young man. Corbin became active in the PNC’s youth movement, later known as the Young Socialist Movement, where he held several leadership positions before being elected to the party’s Central Executive Committee in 1970. His rise through the organisation eventually saw him serve as General Secretary, Senior Vice Chairman, Chairman and Leader of the party.
Corbin first entered the National Assembly in 1973 and would go on to spend decades in Parliament. During the PNC’s years in government, he held several portfolios, including responsibility for youth, national service, regional development and local government. He later served as Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility at different times for agriculture, fisheries and forestry; public utilities; and works and communications.
His tenure as Deputy Prime Minister extended through the latter years of the PNC administration before the party lost office at the 1992 General and Regional Elections. Corbin subsequently became a prominent figure on the opposition benches.
Alongside his political career, Corbin pursued higher education and qualified as an attorney-at-law. He studied social work and law at the University of Guyana and later obtained his Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School. Before entering national politics, he had also worked as a teacher, public servant and social worker, including in hinterland and rural communities.
Corbin assumed leadership of the PNCR following the death of former President and party leader Hugh Desmond Hoyte in December 2002. After initially performing the functions of leader, he was formally elected to head the party at a special congress in February 2003. He also served as Leader of the Opposition during a period marked by intense political and security challenges in Guyana.
One of the most significant developments during the latter part of his leadership was the PNCR’s move towards coalition politics. Corbin was closely involved in negotiations that eventually produced A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in 2011, bringing the PNCR together with the Working People’s Alliance and several other political organisations. At the time, Corbin described the alliance as a new beginning and committed the PNCR to the partnership.
The coalition later became a central force in Guyanese politics and, after joining with the Alliance For Change, won the 2015 General and Regional Elections.
Corbin opted not to seek the presidency in the 2011 elections, with retired Brigadier David Granger eventually becoming APNU’s presidential candidate. He subsequently retired from national electoral politics and stepped down as PNCR leader in 2012. Parliament later formally recognised his decades of service to the National Assembly and Guyana.
In a statement following his death, the PNCR described Corbin as a skilled political strategist and said his passing represented an “irreplaceable loss” to the party. The party noted that even while battling illness, the former leader continued to offer advice to its leadership.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali also extended condolences, describing Corbin as a political stalwart who occupied a prominent place in Guyana’s public life.
“At this time of profound loss, I extend my sincere condolences to Mr. Corbin’s family and loved ones,” Ali said, while also expressing sympathy to the leadership, membership and supporters of the PNC in Guyana and overseas.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who served as President while Corbin was Opposition Leader, also reflected on their relationship, noting that despite representing competing political parties during some of Guyana’s most turbulent years, they maintained open communication.
Jagdeo said the two were able to speak on issues of national importance despite their political differences and maintained a respectful relationship beyond their time in their respective offices.
