Mr. Robert Corbin

Leader
Attorney-at-Law 

Mr. Robert Corbin has had a distinguished public service career, serving in key Ministerial positions in successive People’s National Congress (PNC) Administrations. He has been at various times a Teacher, Public Servant, Youth Leader, Professional Social Worker, Legislator and a member of the Guyana Elections Commission.  

Mr. Corbin has been an elected member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and served as its senior Vice-Chairman and General Secretary. He was elected Chairman of the Party in August 2000 and was re-elected at the Biennial Congress in 2002. When Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte died in December 2002, he became the third Leader of the People's National Congress (PNC). His position as Leader was ratified by a Special Congress of the Party in February 2003. 

Mr. Corbin has been a long standing Member of Parliament and was his Party’s continuous representative from October 1973 to October 1997. He was re-elected to Parliament in 2001 and Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition on May 2, 2003.

Mr. Corbin has traveled widely both as a diplomatic envoy and a representative of Guyana at several important conferences and has established a network of influential friends and colleagues at both the Regional and International level.

Ms. Amna Ally

Administrator

Ms. Amna Ally is a long standing member of the People's National Congress Reform who has served as National Secretary of the youth movement. She is presently an elected member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Director of the Party Organisation. A trained teacher, Ms. Ally possesses a Teacher’s Certificate and a Degree in Management from the University of Guyana.  

Ms. Ally also served as a member of the Eight Parliament, 2001 – 2006. During the life of that Parliament, Ms. Ally served on the Management Committee of Parliament and its Appointive Committee.

Dr. John Austin

Medical Doctor  

Dr. John Austin was educated at Lagos University, Nigeria where he did his undergraduate training in Medicine. He subsequently became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Qualified in Medicine, he served as a Regional Health Officer and Superintendent of the New Amsterdam Hospital. Dr. Austin is now in Private Practice. 

Dr. Austin is a well respected member of the People's National Congress Reform and represents Region 6 on Central Executive of the Party. Dr. Austin is entering Parliament for the first time.

Mrs. Deborah Backer

Attorney-at-Law 

Ms. Deborah Backer is a well known Attorney-at-Law. She obtained her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad in 1983 and a Bachelor of Law (Hons.), University of the West Indies in 1981.

Ms. Backer is a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Vice-Chairman of the Party. She has served in previous Parliaments (1997-2001) and 2001-2006. Previously, Ms. Backer served on the Georgetown City Council in 1994. 

Ms. Backer is a serving member of a number of important organisations such as the Lions Club International and is currently an organising member of the Women’s Millennium Caucus

Mr. E. Lance Carberry

Economist

Chief Whip

Mr. E. Lance Carberry, an Economist by profession, has an enviable record of Public Service in Guyana. He has served an acquired expertise in the bauxite industry. Mr. Carberry also played a key role in the establishment and development of the Iwokrama rainforest project. He is also well versed in matters affecting the energy and environmental sectors of the economy. Mr. Carberry is also a recognised expert in Sustainable Development.

Mr. Carberry possesses a BSc. (Hons.) Degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science; an MSc. Degree in Managerial Economics from City University in England; and a Post Graduate Certificate in the “Planning and Appraisal of Industrial Projects” from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Carberry also represented Guyana at several important international conferences and is the Honorary Consul for Norway in Guyana. 

Mr. Carberry is the Opposition Chief Whip in Parliament.

Mr. Dave Danny

Businessman 

Mr. Dave Danny entered Parliament for the first time in January of 2006, replacing Ms. Lurlene Nestor. He was a Candidate of the PNCR Geographic Constituency for Region 4 in the 2001 General and Regional Elections.  

Mr. Danny has been an active member of the Party and the Georgetown District and is active in several civic organisations, including the Lions Club. 

Mr. Danny is a Businessman.

Ms. Judith David-Blair

Businesswoman 

Ms. Judith David has been an active member of the People's National Congress since 1985 when she entered the ranks of its youth movement, the YSM. She became about the same time a vibrant member of the National Congress of Women (NCW). She represented the Party on the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for Cuyuni/Mazaruni from 1997 to 2001. 

Ms. David is no stranger to the Parliamentary debating chamber, having served as an MP from 2001 to 2006. She was a member of the Standing Order Committee of Parliament.

Mr. Ernest Elliot

Supervisor 

Another longstanding member of the People's National Congress, Mr. Ernest Elliot has been actively involved in the Politics and Administration of Region 4. He was previously a Councillor for the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 4. As a member of the RDC, Mr. Elliot was the Chairman of its Works Committee. 

He brings to his career as a Parliament a wealth of experience garnered while pursuing the interest of the People of Region 4, outstanding service in the Guyana National Service (GNS), and a detailed understanding of the political system and the national economy.

Mr. Desmond Fernandes

Businessman/Youth Worker 

Mr. Desmond Fernandes has been an active and long standing member of the People’s National Congress in Region 1. He has a reputation for good leadership skills and for being an effective organiser. A Businessman by profession, Mr. Fernandes is well known to the members of his community and enjoys their confidence. He has been trained in youth work by the Commonwealth Youth Programme and was awarded a Diploma at the end of his studies. 

Mr. Fernandes has been Chairman of the District and Regional Sports Council and a sports organiser and youth officer in his Region. He entered Parliament in 1988 and remained a member until 1992. Mr. Fernandes will therefore be resuming his career as a Parliamentarian.

Ms. Vanessa Kissoon

Teacher 

She caught the attention of the general public during the campaign by her lively speaking style and dynamic presentations. She is one of the young people who will be entering Parliament for the first time and is widely expected that she will inject a degree of dynamism into the work of Parliament.  

Ms. Vanessa Nicola Kissoon is a graduate of the Cyril Potter College of Education where she was awarded a Trained Teachers Certificate for her studies. She is currently a Teacher at the Mackenzie High School.

Ms. Volda Lawrence

Accountant 

Human Services and Social Security Spokesperson

Ms Volda Lawrence is an Accountant by profession. She has a Degree in Accounting from the University of Guyana and a Masters Degree from Gloucester University, England and is a Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA Level II). Ms. Lawrence is currently employed by the American School in this capacity. 

A member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC), Ms Lawrence also heads the Human Services and Welfare Department of the Party. She has done and continues to do sterling work among the Old and Elderly and families who have encountered misfortune. She is the Shadow Minister of Human Services and Social Security.  

Ms Lawrence has been a Member of Parliament since 2001. She has been a member of Parliamentary Sector Committee on Social Services and the Parliamentary Sector Committee on Public Accounts.

Mr. James Mc Allister

Engineer/Lecturer 

Mr. James Mc Allister is an Engineer. He obtained the Diploma in Technology (Civil) from the University of Guyana in 1987 and a BSc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Guyana in 1992. Mr. Mc Allister has held several Engineering positions with prestigious companies, such as Paranapanema of Brazil.  

Mr. Mc Allister was a member of the Young Socialist Movement (YSM) between 1992 and 1994 and is currently a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC). In addition, he has been the Party’s Chairman of Region 3 and Chairman of the Party Committee on Shared Governance.  

Mr. Mc Allister entered Parliament in 2001 and became Chairman of its Economics Services Committee.

Mr. Winston Murray

Economist/Lawyer 

 Finance Spokesperson

Mr. Winston Shripal Murray is both an Economist and a Lawyer who has held important Public Service positions. Mr. Murray has been a senior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, 1985-1992; Head of the Presidential Secretariat, 1985; Head of the Department of International Economic Cooperation, 1983-1984; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, 1983-1984. He also had a stint in Diplomatic Service at the Guyana Embassy in Brussels.  

Mr. Murray has a BSc. (Hons.) in Economics from the London School of Economics; a Certificate in Public Finance from the IMF; an LLB from the University of Guyana and a Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School.  

Elected Chairman of the Party at the Special Congress in February 2003, Mr. Murray has also been a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC). He is also the Shadow Minister for Finance 

Mr. Murray entered Parliament in 1985 and has represented the PNCR continuously to the present time. Until the end of the last Parliament, he was Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.

Mr. Aubrey C. Norton

Political Activist/Lecturer  

Politics has dominated Mr. Aubrey C. Norton’s life. Joining the youth arm of the People's National Congress (PNC), the Young Socialist Movement (YSM), he distinguished himself at an early age and became a member of its Executive. As he matured, Mr. Norton was to become familiar with all of the Major Councils and arms of the People's National Congress and in time became one of its youngest General Secretary. He is currently a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Chairman of the Georgetown District. This is Mr. Norton’s second stint as a Parliamentarian, having served previously from 1998 to 2001.  

Mr. Norton was educated at the University of Guyana where he obtained a Bachelor of Social Science Degree (Hons.) in Political Science and the University of Kent where he obtained an MA Degree in International Relations. Mr. Norton’s educational and political background made him an ideal choice for the Foreign Service, which he joined in the 80s. He lectures at the University of Guyana and is a respected commentator on Political and Economic Affairs and International Relations.

Dr. George Norton

Ophthalmologist 

Amerindian Spokesperson

Dr. George Norton is the Tosshau for the village of Riversview, Essequibo River, Region 10. He was educated in the Republic of Cuba where he graduated with a Degree in Medicine from the Superior Institute of Medical Science in 1984 and specialized in Ophthalmology in 1988. Dr. Norton is a Consulting Ophthalmologist and Head the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Guyana.  

Dr. Norton is the Party’s Director of Hinterland Affairs and is a Member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC). He takes a special interest in sports, youth and culture and the Indigenous Rights of the Amerindian people.

Dr. Norton entered Parliament in 2001 and has been a vibrant representative of the Amerindian Community.

Ms. Clarissa Riehl

Attorney-at-Law

Deputy Speaker

Foreign Affairs Spokesperson

Ms. Clarissa Riehl, who had responsibility for Foreign Affairs, also served as the Deputy Speaker in Parliament. She became a Parliamentarian in 1992 and has remained a Parliamentarian since then. Ms. Riehl was a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs in the last Parliament. 

Ms. Riehl acquired her legal education from the University of Guyana and University of the West Indies where she obtained an LLB Degree in 1977. Subsequently she obtained her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago in 1979. 

Ms. Riehl is a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC).

Mr. Keith Scott

Political Leader

Mr. Keith Scott was born to a family which has had a long association with the political history of Guyana. It is no surprise then that he is not only well grounded in the art of politics but also understands in an intimate way what forces move and shape the course of contemporary politics in Guyana. 

Influenced by these experiences, he was to become a founding member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and later launched his own Party, the National Democratic Movement (NDM). This Party later merged with others to become the National Front Alliance (NFA). 

Mr. Scott was formerly a Teacher for more than 10 years. He also participated in the work of a number youth groups and those associated with the cultural development of Guyana. A keen sportsman, he has played cricket for both the Malteenoes Sports Club and the Demerara Cricket Club. Mr. Scott attended the University of Guyana and later pursued studies in the United States in the area of Social Security. On his return to Guyana he joined the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) as an Inspector. He subsequently established his own Consultancy in Taxation and Labour Relations.  

Mr. Scott experience and political skill should make him an attractive and vocal Member of Parliament.

Ms. Africo Selman

Tutor/Student 

She is one of the vibrant young members of the PNCR. During the campaign she was an effective speaker and a very articulate representative of the issues affecting the young people. Like Mervyn William, she is expected to represent the Party effectively on the issues affecting youths and to press for the implementation of aspects of the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES).  

Ms. Africo Selman was educated at Queens College and the University of Guyana where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in International Relations. She is currently pursuing a Degree in Law and is a part-time tutor in Political Science at the University of Guyana.

Mr. Anthony Vieira

Businessman 

Mr. Anthony Vieira belongs to a family that has given Public Service of the highest quality to this nation especially in the area of business and agriculture. He is the son of Joe Vieira whose business acumen and expertise has been of great importance to the development of Guyana in the Agricultural sector generally and sugar, particularly. Mr. Vieira is expected to pursue the latter subject with his customary vigour and informed insight.  

Mr. Vieira is a former Administrative Manager of Guysuco Estate and a trained Agronomist. He was appointed field superintendent for technical matters in 1965 after obtaining a Diploma in Plant, Anatomy and Physiology in Trinidad at the Tropical School of Agriculture and the University of Guyana. He was promoted to Assistant Field Manager in 1969 and Field Manager in 1973 and finally Administrative Manager in 1976 at the Versailles Sugar Estate. 

In 1983, Mr. Vieira pioneered the first television broadcast station in Guyana for which he was awarded the Medal of Service. Today Mr. Vieira owns and operates one of the privately owned television station in Guyana and is the publisher of the Evening News. This newscast was determined as the result of a Poll done by Thomas Brook and Associates Inc. of Canada as the best in Guyana. 

The popular broadcaster is the former Director of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), and is married and has two children with his current wife and four with his former wife.

Ms. Jennifer Wade

Community Leader 

Ms. Jennifer Wade is a former Teacher and Regional Councillor for Region 5. She enters Parliament for the first time with a wealth of experience in Social Affairs. It is expected that she will monitor issues of a social nature and address them in her presentations.  

Ms. Wade has been a long standing and respected member of the People's National Congress Reform. She represents Region 5 on the Central Executive Committee (CEC).

Mr. Basil Williams

Attorney-at-Law 

Mr. Basil Williams was privileged to begin his Public Service career as a young lawyer and as one of the late Founder Leader’s legal advisors. Later, he was to become Legal Assistant to the then President Hoyte from 1985-1988. While in the Office of the President he became intimately familiar with the politics of the PNC and the machinery of the Party. He has gone on to become a Vice-Chairman of the Party and a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC). Mr. Williams is also Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Party and a member of the Joint Task Force on Local Government Reform.  

Mr. Williams holds an LLB (Hons.) Degree from the University of the West Indies, Cape Hill Campus and  a Legal Education Certificate from the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago. He has served in different capacities in the public domain, including representing Guyana at the 6^th Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in 1985; City Councillor from 1986-1988 and Secretary of the Review Committee of the Companies Act, 1986-1988. 

Mr. Williams entered Parliament in 2003.

Mr. Mervyn Williams

Community Organiser 

Mr. Mervyn Williams is a former Councillor of Region 3 where he served the Party well. He was the Party’s representative on the Regional Housing Committee and the Regional Works Committee. A former Chairman of the Vergenoegen PNCR Group, Mr. Williams is one of the young members of Parliament who will be entering that Institution for the first time. Mr. Williams is currently a student at the University of Guyana in the field of Marketing.  

Mr. Williams has worked at the National Insurance Scheme and is currently employed by Amazon Caribbean (Guy) Limited.