The Story within the Story…The responsibilities of holding public office

Apr 02, 2017 News

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By Leonard Gildarie
There was a time in Guyana when people were guarded in criticizing the Government of the day.

There were not a lot of forums back in the ‘80s, save for the Guyana Chronicle, The Mirror and Catholic Standard. The first, controlled by the state, speaks for itself. The Mirror belongs to the People’s Progressive Party and is still around, though it has been a while since I last saw it.
It was a Sunday tradition in Enmore with the three. I think the ‘Dear Helen’ section for the broken hearts was a favourite.
Back in the 1980s, there was no internet as we know it today. News came via BBC radio and the regional radio. I think it was CANA.
Death announcement, Quiz Catch and Ricks and Sari hour were popular. Death announcements and the sombre music that accompanied it at 9pm was a time you dare not speak lest the grandparents miss who died.
The world has changed dramatically since then. First it was television and then the internet. Analog television and the use of antennas for signals will soon go.
Digital cable via telephone lines and in some cases via networks to phones and even wrist watches are gaining rapid traction.
The primary internet source for the majority of Guyanese remains the cell phone. That is not likely to change in a hurry, unless internet rates for DSL go down further and more landlines are available to especially new housing schemes.
The internet has ushered in an entirely different way on how news is being dispensed. More and more, I see breaking news on Facebook.
Social media has also brought on a whole different level of monitoring of the Government, the Parliament, the Opposition, the police and other state arms.
I saw so many stories broken on Facebook that I have become alarmed about the capacity of mainstream media – like television and radio – to stay alive.
Advertising dollars are gravitating slowly to web pages of Kaieteur News and other online forums.
The situation has fostered a growing independence and voices are now fearless. From cartoons, to blunt commentary, citizens from the comfort of their smartphone or home, are feeling free to lambast their politicians or talk about what is going on at Diamond Hospital.
It is against this background that our leaders and blossoming politicians have to understand the old ways can no longer work. Voters are expecting something different.
I have said it many times before. The voting patterns have changed. The young, first-time voters no longer care about Burnham and Cheddi. Inter-racial relations have become a norm.
We have to prepare for a time where the voting population will be gravitating more to issues – what puts bread on their table, instead of choosing a party that the family has been backing for years.
In recent days three items caught my attention.
One involved the delivery of drugs by Government to the Suddie hospital. A visit by a special team of health officials found that large quantities of the drugs delivered could not be accounted for.
Our hospital drugs bills – publicly-owned hospitals- are in the billions. In 2015, it was over $5B.
There has been a growing complaint at hospitals about drug shortages. The blame was being laid all over. The drugs came late. The regions did not order supplies in time. Some of the drugs had expired. Patients were being given the prescription and asked to buy at the privately-owned pharmacies.
The word on the street is that there is a huge racket running at the hospitals with drugs. It is in the millions of dollars. The drugs are being stolen and sold to privately-owned pharmacies and even to little shops. A loose system had allowed it. An investigation was launched.
In another report, it was alleged that hospitals staffers were taking monies from patients for speeding up their cases. In some cases, monies were demanded for operations which are free at the state-run facilities. Somebody complained. The matter is being investigated.
In the last case, Attorney General Basil Williams, is in hot water for comments he made to a sitting judge. The judge has complained and threatened not to hear any more matters from the AG unless he apologises in open court.
In the past, I have expressed serious reservations about the attitude of some of our judges. Some of them, I believe have abused the system, making themselves filthy rich.
Our courts are part of the government system that is supposed to be highly independent. The lines have been blurred because of political interference in the past and some obviously biased decisions. However, that is beside the point.
Our courts have to be respected. We don’t have to agree with our judges, but their very presence in the sacred grounds of the court buildings represent what we want for this dear land of ours. We want the system to work. We believe it should work.
There is no excuse for what the AG said.
I have known AG Williams for a long time. He has an infectious laugh and wicked sense of humour. He readily says what comes to his mind. However, the business of the people is a serious one.
We have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a manner that shows respect for our office and country. There is a code that governs how public officials should behave. This is especially so for the AG who is supposed to be a shining example of a law-abiding citizen.
The judge is clear in his demands. He wants an apology. It is an untenable situation and cannot continue. Let us get it over with and done.
The holding of public office is a serious matter and should be given its due respect.

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