The entire Cabinet should polygraphed

Jan 16, 2009 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

Burnham did a lot of wrong things during his rule. No one should be that barefaced enough to deny that. The PNC’s refusal to publicly acknowledge this fact is why a huge amount of people in and out of this country cannot see any redemptive value in the PNC. This is wrong of course.
The PNC has played its role as an opposition force. One just has to imagine what the PPP and Mr. Jagdeo would have done if you didn’t have the PNC. But the PNC will continue to be denied a relationship with lots of people in Guyana if it remains in denial about the sins of Burnham.
However terrible were the faults of Burnham, history has turned full circle. There is a growing body of evidence that proves (not indicates but proves) that the PPP Government, since the death of Cheddi Jagan, has done terrible things to this country that put the party in the same category as the rule of Burnham –dictatorship.
This body of evidence strongly points to egregious and horrible misconduct many manifestations of which are worse than what took place under Burnham. I have met both African and Indian middle class citizens who have told me that on long reflection they think that if the PPP stays in power for another term, it will become the worst government in the history of the English-speaking Caribbean.
My feeling on this is clear – it is the second most undemocratic government in the Caribbean after Burnham’s administration but it has done some unspeakable things that not even Burnham would have attempted.
The nastiness of the present cabal in power in Guyana continues to defy logic. Where it will end needs no guessing – Guyana is heading for trouble because a breaking point is coming. The Jagdeo presidency dismissed the head of CANU because it is alleged that he failed a lie detector test. Yet it replaced him with someone who is controversial and should be compelled to take the polygraph examination, not that the polygraph is a reliable instrument.
But if the test was applied as a policy then why should there be an exception. This was such a dirty piece of politics that took us back to the ruthless days of Forbes Burnham that all the major stakeholders in this society should have protested, and this is a large but; would Burnham have been that barefaced?
Quite often I am engaged in conversation face to face and through e-mail correspondence on the question of how bad is the PPP’s stewardship when compared to Burnham’s and I would suggest to them that the proof is there and it should be looked for. I always tell people that what Mr. Jagdeo did on three consecutive occasions at UG Burnham would never, and I repeat, never have contemplated. He was just too thinking and smart a President.
On this point most people agree. I believe that given the way he ran things Burnham would have assigned a polygraph test to the new head of CANU. With facetious cynicism he would have used his favourite saying; “Do nothing fear nothing.” That was a phrase he was fond of.
It is not that in principle, the administering of the lie detector test was wrong. But why CANU seniors, only? Mr. Rohee was denied an American visa. He should be polygraphed. So should the Commissioner of Police. The entire Cabinet should be polygraphed.
The people of Guyana are yet to bear another gargantuan manifestation of hypocrisy with the investigation of the assets of five senior GRA officials in the Polar beer scandal. I don’t have a problem with that. But why these five only and not others in the GRA and others in high places like in the Cabinet itself, GuySuCo, and other high public sector niches where corruption is rampant?
It is pathetic nonsense to tell a nation that you are investigating the assets of five GRA officials when elected politicians have accumulated vast wealth that is shamelessly displayed. It took me twenty years to buy land and build a modest house with a UG salary that was higher than a majority of ruling politicians who now have huge assets in their possession.
One member of the PPP leadership at Dr. Jagan’s death anniversary told his audience that businessmen built the house for me. I am not ashamed of begging. But I am not corrupt and I do not steal from my country. Where did the PPP boys and girls get these fantastic resources from?

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The entire Cabinet should polygraphed

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