There have been many instances of glaring corruption in which nothing
has been done
Stabroek News, Sunday, August 26th 2007
Dear Editor,
It is the perception of many that corruption in Guyana in its various
forms is a major problem of governance. Stella Ramsaroop who writes a
column for Kaieteur News referred to corruption as Guyana's primary
enemy. I would add racial politics with corruption. This perception of
corruption is the cause for the low ranking Guyana received from
Transparency International on the Corruption Perception Index.
Apparently this low ranking and its inherent criticism of governance in
Guyana, like most criticisms of Jadgeo's administration, have incensed
the President, so as usual he lashed out at his critics. The focus of
the President's "cussing out" this time is Transparency International.
According to a release by the Government Information Agency (GINA),
Jagdeo was quoted as telling media operatives after a visit to Guyana
by the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis
Alberto Moreno that, "I don't have a problem with those factual,
specific types of protests and investigations because, if there is a
case of corruption and it is made known, it could be investigated and
the results made known to the public. My problem though is when people
come in (to Guyana) and make blanket statements and have a corruption
perception index. If I were to manage this country on perception,
people would say it is bad governance."
Perhaps if President Jagdeo were to manage the country on perception he
would indeed do a better job since it means that he would be listening
to the people of Guyana who employ him and deal decisively with this
issue. In most democracies politicians pay close attention to
perception. Opinion polls are based on people's perception of
governance. Of course opinion polls are not part of Guyana's political
system.
However, it may be prudent to remind President Jagdeo of factual
specific cases of corruption in which either no serious investigations
were commenced or no one was held accountable. Accountability relating
to corruption does not mean dismissal or resignation, only to be hired
again in another capacity at another government entity. In countries
serious about fighting corruption the perpetrators are made an example
of, and as such are send to jail. The cases I will refer to will have
no chronological order but pertain to the PPP's government since 1992.
1) The well known multi-million dollar milk scam, where low grade
vegetable milk was supplied to the Social Impact Amelioration Programme
(SIMAP) in place of cream milk by Hanson Import/Export, then chaired by
PPP parliamentarian, Dr Hughley Hanoman. A low level officer was
dismissed and Dr Hanoman resigned from parliament, end of case. No
charges were brought and no one went to jail.
2) The multi million dollar stone importation scam relating to the
Essequibo Road Project in the Ministry of Public Works. This was
investigated after it was made public but no charges were brought and
again no one went to jail.
3) The 50 million wildlife fraud involving an advisor to the President.
The Government blamed Bal Persaud, head of the Environmen-tal
Protection Agency who publicly refuted the charges. Again no one went
to jail. Nothing else was ever heard about the case.
4) Old age Pension Fraud; this was financial fraud alleged to have been
perpetrated by staffers of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and
Social Security and officers in the Guyana Post Office Corporation.
Some officers were dismissed after an investigation No charges were
brought and no one went to jail.
These are well known cases of corruption.
There are also many other cases of fraud in the construction industry.
It is well known that most of the companies which are awarded contracts
have close ties to the PPP government. Many of these contracts produced
extremely shabby work. Billions of dollars are spent on infrastructural
work in Guyana from billions borrowed from international financial
institutions, which eventually have to be paid back by poor tax payers.
The rich in Guyana do not pay their share of taxes. The cases of fraud
and corruption in the construction industry include
A koker collapsed on the upper east coast, one month after it was
built. No one was prosecuted;
A new multi-million dollar wharf at Charity sank less than a year after
it was built, no one went to jail;
A multi-million dollar sea defence at Mon Repos was breached months
after it was built;
The bridge at Mandela Avenue collapsed one month after it was built, no
one was prosecuted.
The village road that was asphalted on First Street, Gove, ECD broke up
into potholes, within months after it was built, no one was prosecuted.
These are only a few cases of corruption in the construction industry.
This sector is prime for corruption because of the billions of dollars
of contracts awarded for infrastructural work in a shroud of secrecy.
The opposition raised the question of unskilled workers being used as
skilled engineers by companies awarded contracts with budgets submitted
for salaries of professional engineers. The Jadgeo administration
dismissed the opposition without an investigation and adequate
explanation.
There was the US$222,500 contract to update the laws of Guyana, awarded
to the New York based company, New Global Consults Inc, which was not
advertised in Guyana because according to the Minister of Finance, Mr.
Kowlessar, he did not think anyone in Guyana could provide CDs. It
turned out, "one of the key persons in preparing the contract is not a
legal expert, and a sample copy from New Global was sent to only one
law student for a review. New Global is owned partially by one Mr.
Kawal Totaram, a well-known PPP campaigner.
Perception about corruption is not drawn out of thin air, it is usually
based on how citizen's perceive their government and society. The fact
is citizen opinion is a key source in the system of good governance.
Perception is obviously informed by what citizens senses reveal to
them. One only has to look at the standard of living of some government
ministers before they became ministers in 1992 and their standard of
living now.
People in Guyana have information and know what is taking place but are
afraid to speak.
President Jagdeo has to stop talking and get serious about fighting
corruption in government, he can begin with his cabinet, or else
perception will remain an important factor in judging his government.
Let me conclude by saying to Freddie Kissoon, history will look upon
you favourably for the relentless struggle you are waging to make
Guyana a better society. A struggle is not only forged with physical
action, it is also forged with intellect and willingness to educate the
masses.
Yours faithfully,
Denis Wiggins
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