If it was wrong under the PPP/C it cannot be right under APNU+AFC
Dear Editor,
Those in society who fought for change in the manner in which the government functions and elected representatives conduct the people’s business carry a corresponding responsibility to hold this new administration accountable to universal acceptable standards. People want this government to succeed, especially coming after years of gross mismanagement, abuse of state resources, deceitful and contemptuous politicians, violation of laws, time-honoured principles and the transgression of workers/citizens’ rights.
If this administration had stuck to doing the things they said when in opposition and demanded of the PPP/C when on the other side in the National Assembly, the crises we are witnessing today would have been avoided.
Government is not managed by gut feelings and concessions to friends, but by internationally accepted principles, conventions, charters and laws. In an environment where good governance is held in esteem, there could not be a situation where a group which has made a decision in the first instance on the bond matter, from within identifies three to investigate it.
Where a minister today thinks it is acceptable to commit an egregious act on behalf of the state and refers to such as a “learning experience,” when neither he nor the party he associates with would have allowed the PPP/C to do the same, and then expects a mere apology will suffice, this is double standards and crass contempt for the people. Had a clerk committed a similar act, that worker would not have escaped accountability under the claim of a learning experience and the matter would have been placed in the hands of the police where it rightfully belongs.
It is an affront to the intelligence of Guyanese to ask us to accept that the bad decision and abuse of taxpayers’ money in selecting the Sussex Street bond has to do with location and road traffic considerations, as against the bond at Diamond that meets storage requirements. A storage bond that houses the nation’s drugs and pharmaceutical supplies cannot be likened to the storage facility of the various state-owned health institutions. With proper management each health institution should have stock on hand to meet shortterm needs including emergencies, which makes the claim of ‘emergency’ an excuse. Health institutions, by their very nature, have to factor in emergencies in their planning.
If elected representatives can get away with lying to the National Assembly and by extension the people and keep their jobs, these same representatives have no moral authority to say to appointed government officials that they cannot keep
theirs for doing the same thing. And should such be the approach to governance this nation will sink deeper into the morass.
Constitutional commissions are independent bodies, whose functions are established in the constitution and whose conduct is circumscribed by said instrument and the laws. If there exists a disagreement with a decision made by any constitutional body such has to be adjudicated and pronounced on by the court.
Further to the above, those speaking out against this administration’s misconduct are being subjected to personal ridicule and denial of their rights and role in society, similar to what happened under the PPP/C.
That such pursuit is designed to silence persons so this administration can repeat the PPP/C’s mistakes and not be held to account, should not be tolerated or supported. Equally the thin-skinned tendencies by some in the administration to public outcries and their abuse of the people’s privilege must be condemned.
Ours is a representative system of government and those elected to represent us, whether a ballot was cast for them or not, once being paid by our tax dollars are duty bound to abide by established rules, timehonoured principles and laws. The business of governance does not belong to a party or group. It belongs to the people who have elected representatives to manage their affairs. And whichever party or group demonstrates an inclination to see and treat the people’s business otherwise, we, the people must stand up, make our voices heard, and refuse to relent until the desired change is achieved.
Good governance will never be achieved in the face of complicity and silence in relation to wrongdoing. If it was wrong under the PPP/C it cannot be right under the APNU+AFC. Where the APNU and AFC in opposition condemned the PPP/C wrongs in government they carry greater responsibility to avoid said and similar wrongs. Each and every one of us must see they do this for the sake of our own and the nation’s growth and development.
Yours faithfully, Lincoln Lewis