Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 08, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists
It is said that the PPP inherited years of corruption from the PNC in 1992, and now the APNU+AFC coalition government, of which the PNC is the major party, has also inherited years of corruption from the PPP. Some would refer to this as karma. Whatever it is described as, corruption has unfortunately reigned for decades in Guyana.
Not only did corrupt politicians loot the treasury, they also took everything from the people and crippled the economy with thievery and waste to the point where the incumbent administration is struggling to save the country from sinking.
In spite of immoral and corrupt practices being highlighted, it seems that many of the perpetrators in recent times will escape scot-free with their fat bank accounts and affluent lifestyles intact, while the poor suffer as they have to dig deeper into their pockets to survive.
It is sickening to know that if someone commits a crime and every time he/she does, someone else gets punished for it. What would stop that person from continuing, especially if it is lucrative? This is the case of those corrupt individuals, who have the same mentality as drug dealers and hit men. Drug dealers sell drugs that only affect the health of their users, and hit men kill without any consideration for the families of their victims.
Those who have allegedly stolen public funds in more recent times have not been charged, prosecuted or forced to repay what is missing, because the government is either scared, confused or has been notoriously slow to act.
For instance, forensic audits have revealed that billions of dollars are not accounted for at NICIL, yet no one has been charged. And several audit reports have shown that shocking anomalies occurred in numerous other government departments and agencies, yet the government seems powerless to act.
During the budget presentation, the Minister of Finance spent hours detailing the corrupt practices by the former administration, but nothing ever came out of it.
If the government is serious about ending negative perceptions, then it cannot remain silent on the revelation that the Minister of State had several weeks ago intervened and prevented GRA from seizing vehicles owned by Bai Shan Lin. The same Minister’s unilateral appointment of an advisor was equally mind-boggling. The people are owed a coherent explanation. Arrogance and the unhealthy obsession with power by some in the administration should not be tolerated. Disciplinary action must be taken against those who have abused their power.
Where does the government go from here?
Well, the good news is that it could go up if it succeeds in combating corruption and disciplines those who broke the law. The bad news is that it will lose credibility if it does not prosecute those culpable of corrupt practices.
It is time for the government to make sure that corrupt politicians are made to pay for their transgressions. And it also cannot allow partisanship to take precedence over what is right for the nation and society.
Most conscious Guyanese believe that the former administration was arguably one of the most corrupt in the entire region, and still somehow, many of those suspected to have been dishonest remain unfazed and untouched. In fact, some still have prestigious positions in the society and can be considered power-brokers.
It is true that power corrupts and a lax environment breeds crime. All this is present in Guyana. Not much is being done to curb such lawlessness. It appears that all the wrongdoers are being allowed to do what they want with total impunity. The anti-corruption rhetoric and the promise of change and good governance that emanated from the government during the election campaign have somehow fizzled. The task appears to be more difficult when viewed from the inside. There must be no excuses. Failure to act is a sign of weakness.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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