Corruption must be confronted
Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi speaking in the Lok Sabha during the just concluded 2017 Union budget debate was quoted as saying: “corruption begins with cash, and later with gold then property.” The combative Hindu nationalist once Chief Minister of Gujarat, campaigned his way into office attacking the steep deceleration of the Indian economy, demanding good governance, and committing to the fight against political
corruption and crony capitalism in India.
Thus far, in combination with his highly popular Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, he has aggressively if not skilfully pushed through the demonetization of high denominations of the Indian rupee despite resistance by a few “rupee rajahs” and others who, according to Mr Jaitley, had cultivated “tax evasion as a way of life” in India. Mr Jaitley, was quoted as saying that demonetization has resulted in his government now being seen as a “trusted custodian of public money.”
The Indian experience in fighting corruption has some lessons from which Guyana can learn, notwithstanding the two countries’ differing priorities based on their local conditions and peculiarities.
Speaking recently at a one- day seminar to address the challenges facing the Serious Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) in fulfilling its mandate, British High Commissioner Greg Quinn had this to say: “Let’s not kid ourselves, both [corruption and money laundering] are a problem here in Guyana... Too many people still think that they can get away with corruption and with financial abuse.”
SOCU is a creature of the PPP/C administration. Its efforts deserve all the professional support it can muster to fulfil its mandate, provided it is not used for political vendettas. Mr Quinn went on to add that Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for a country like Guyana “would point to endemic corruption in the country’s public sector.”
The High Commissioner’s comments on this issue, diplomatic as they were, are indeed very timely and relevant in Guyana’s present day context. It brought into focus once again the malignancy of corruption currently feeding on the sinews of the APNU+AFC coalition administration.
The diplomat’s reference to the perception that, “Too many still think that they can get away with corruption and financial abuse” must be taken very seriously, especially now that citizens have become much more aware of the systemic and endemic nature of this malignant phenomenon. The scandalous ‘pharmacy’ bond issue; the controversial issuance of import licences for fuel to the head of GWI; the inexplicable outstanding US$5M for GT&T shares that cannot be accounted for; the shady parking meter contract; the unresolved GPL meter contract and the D’Urban Park Development Project, among others have, like a camoudi, coiled around the government.
It is to be recalled that on assumption to office in May 2015, President Granger pledged to the nation his commitment to “root out corruption and bribery.” Nowadays, Guyanese would scoff at this and consider it as just another joke typical of the APNU+AFC administration.
As far as the PPP is concerned, a media generated frenzy about corruption and other alleged-wrong doings during its tenure in office contributed in no small measure to its electoral misfortunes. And even though the party is now in opposition, some with weary hands and blistered fingers continue to beat this second-hand drum notwithstanding the fact that the government, after spending millions on a slew of audits produced no specificities about PPP/C corruption and wrongdoing while in office.
The party has publicly stated time and again that it will support any investigation into corruption providing the process of such investigations is transparent and above board politically. In the view of the PPP, suspects involved in corruption must face the court to have a fair trial and if found guilty, bear the full brunt of the law. No one must be above the law. Corruption must be confronted in the past, in the present and in the future. Yours faithfully, Clement J Rohee