Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 02, 2014 AFC Column, Features / Columnists
In Guyana we have a common saying; “mouth open – story jump out”. By now, the Attorney General is surely ruing the minute he opened his mouth to speak with Leonard Gildarie of the Kaieteur News. What is significant is that the Government has not refuted, whether in part or in its entirety, the content of the conversation.
From the transcript of the conversation as published by the Kaieteur News, we now have, in the words of the Attorney General, proof that the Government is dipping into tax dollars for private use. The Alliance For Change has repeatedly spoken and written about this abuse of the public purse by the PPP Government and now the AG ‘open e mouth’ and confess to the abuse.
In the conversation, Nandlall says clearly that he, “use some money from the government.” Though he said he “pay it back”, Nandlall’s confession raises more questions on the practice of Ministers ‘borrowing’ from the government. Where did the PPP Government get the money to lend Nandlall and how many others are ‘borrowing’ from the Government?
Nowhere in any of the budgets can one find the Line Item “Loan to Ministers and Government Officials” so, how was this loan processed and under what conditions and out of which fund?
The Consolidated Fund is supposed to be the central repository of all public monies, and only by way of what is approved by the National Assembly at the end of the Budget debate can withdrawals be made or under circumstances that can be considered of national importance. Surely, whatever circumstances befell the Attorney General cannot be considered of national importance!
The AFC has been calling ad nauseam for all public monies to be paid into the Consolidated Fund. The Lotto Fund, NICIL, earnings from State Corporations etc. all must be paid into the Consolidated Fund. Needless to say, the PPP Government has blatantly refused to pay over these monies thus leaving open the opportunity for questionable and highly irregular ‘borrowing’.
Did the “loan” to Nandlall come from NICIL? Is the PPP selling off state resources and ‘lending’ the proceeds to Ministers and other Government Officials? How many other Ministers have ‘borrowed’ from the Government? Have they all repaid their loans?
What seems to be unfolding here is a practice where Ministers can access the public purse for their private use. We see many of these Ministers building mansions across Guyana, some have more than one. Are they ‘borrowing’ taxpayers’ money to erect their mansions while ordinary Guyanese have to struggle and take mortgages from the banks to build their modest homes? How many of those grand homes owned by Ministers were built with money from NICIL, the Lotto Fund or some other fund that the PPP has refused to pay over into the Consolidated Fund?
While many citizens find it hard to travel to another part of the country for a few days or to make a quick trip to nearby Suriname or Trinidad to visit relatives, our Ministers could be using taxpayers’ money to take family vacations at exotic locations the ordinary Guyanese only see in movies.
This wrongdoing by both the AG and the PPP Government in permitting the extraction of some $6.5M from taxpayers, and only reimbursing it when journalistic sunshine made it visible, ýalso reveals the hypocrisy and greed of the AG who said he made his money at age 38! Why did he not initially extract that sum from his own bank account? Why rush to the almost bankrupt people’s account?
Who are the favoured Ministers that can borrow from the Government and when did this practice start? How much have Ministers ‘borrowed’ over the years and how much has been repaid?
We do not need to list them individually, but the public surely knows the Ministers that have built mansions since coming into office and whose children drive expensive vehicles. What seems to be coming clear now that the AG has opened his mouth is that it is possible for Government Ministers to ‘borrow’ from the Government. Can bus driver Dalip, Nurse Gwen or Ms. Williams selling at the market also ‘borrow from the Government?
And look at the abusive conduct exhibited in that display with Gildarie? Such expletives and profanities from ýone who always put on a show as to the extent of his vocabulary! It was a shame and disgrace. This apart, his attempted sexual predation of that “young, nice female reporter” stinks. This is conduct of a quack and pseudo Kshatriya.
The top brass of the PPP now is made up of a set of rogues and vagabonds. That Party has expelled, shelved and frustrated out from its precincts the genuine and responsible leaders and potential statesmený. It is hoped that now the consciences of its supporters have been rankled sufficiently to see a greater exodus from that party into the ranks of the AFC.
Only the other day that self same AG was in Berbiceý mocking that the AFC can’t come up with a Cabinet to run the country. Look at what the PPP Cabinet has produced? This most despicable and dishonourable performance is least expected from any Cabinet member. He must know, like all of Guyana, that such a performance like he delivered can be easily bettered.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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