Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 08, 2016 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom
Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated (TIGI) is making an important statement of principle in relation to an honorific appointment that was made by the APNU+AFC government. The appointment was recently rescinded by the President.
The appointment was nullified, but the damage seems to already have been done. This appointment is the talking point of Guyanese all over, and even the most hardened of government supporters are upset.
The cause of their upset is, however, not the same as that which caused the TIGI to issue a statement. Supporters of the ruling party are fuming because of the person who was given the honorific appointment. The TIGI, on the other hand, is implying that it is tantamount to corruption for anyone to be rewarded with an appointment by the government because that person made a contribution to their political campaign.
It sounds like a compelling argument. People should not be rewarded with government positions, whether honorific or otherwise, solely because they made a contribution to the political campaign of the party that won the seat of government.
Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. may have been loose in its use of language, especially since the specific case it was dealing with did not involve any use of State resources. However, its essential message was that the ruling party was using its position as the government to reward its supporters and donors.
This column will not go as far as Transparency International, however, and describe the specific appointment as corruption. It will only say that it is unethical for someone to be given a government appointment, honorific or otherwise, because that person contributed to the victory of the ruling party.
Corruption has a specific definition: it is the use of entrenched political power for private gain. The gain does not have to be on the government side, it could be on the other side. According to Transparency International, political corruption need not involve money; it could be about trading influence. There is no evidence of this in the case that is attracting so much controversy.
The system of handing out appointments to persons who supported or participated in your campaign is known as the system of spoils and patronage. It has been practiced from time immemorial. Politicians always have to reward their supporters with positions. This still happens all over the world.
Which government does not reward its supporters with government positions? The spoils system is part of our political culture. Governments hand out positions, including ambassadorships, to their friends and supporters. Financiers are placed on government Boards.
What the Transparency Institute of Guyana is asking us to do is to rethink the spoils system.
The government should not concentrate too much on the language of the release issued by the TIGI. The government should be more concerned with the principle. The government should ask itself the fundamental question: Should someone who has contributed to the efforts of the ruling party to win an election be given a government appointment on the basis of that person’s contribution to the election campaign?
The ethical answer would seem to be a resounding, “NO!” Governments should not be handing out appointments simply because someone contributed to their election victory. Appointments should be based on other considerations, such as the person’s suitability and ability.
APNU+AFC has given out a number of honorific awards to its supporters in the United States of America and Canada. Those who received these awards should check to see whether they were made in the name of the government or in the name of a party or parties in the coalition government.
If the appointments were made in the name of the government, then the persons who received them should hand them back in as a matter of principle. They should not be proud of receiving a state appointment, honorific or otherwise, solely because of their contributions to the coalition’s election campaign.
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