THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING A GREAT JOB

Aug 09, 2009 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

There will be no lie detector tests for government ministers and senior policy-makers. This is a welcome announcement by the government which should be applauded by all in society. There is no need to test any of these individuals. We have an honest government that is truthful and incorruptible.
Why waste money when you know the truth is so obvious. Why waste US$ 200 – US$300 to carry out tests on these individuals when you can look into their eyes and know they are all hardworking and honest individuals who have never taken bribes or engaged in any improper conduct on the jobs?
We have a good government; our ministers are not very rich and they can be trusted with the affairs of Guyana. So why waste money on lie detector tests?

Our ministers are so honest that instead of calling for them to be subjects, we should be passing laws to provide for assured benefits and pension after they have retired. We should not allow them, having served so faithfully the people of Guyana, to have to live in poverty after they would have left office. So let us instead of criticizing, implement a Ministers’ Pension Bill which would provide for them after they would have left office. We cannot have them riding around on bicycles and catching minibuses after they would have retired, even though they are all modest enough not to be ashamed of doing this.
So stop the criticism about the exemption of ministers and policy-makers from polygraph testing. Do you know just how much money is going to be saved because of this exemption? Do you know how much money would have had to be spent to conduct these tests? Why waste this money when we can dedicate it to Guyana’s Low-Carbon Development?
In fact, some of the workers who expect to be soon subject to the test are saying the same thing. They are saying, why waste money on testing them. Given them the US$200 and US$300 and they will willingly fire the work. Instead of paying the polygraph man, why not pay the same money to those who will be fired in any event. Saves a lot of trouble would it not.

In fact we should be asking the United States government to pay for these tests since it is the United States which is benefitting from us subjecting our workers to polygraphs. Remember when Guyana requested that the US assist with polygraph testing and they did not come forward? We have shown them that despite their reluctance, we are prepared to conduct the test ourselves and to pay for these tests, a proven testimony to our commitment to ensure probity in government.
Obviously, everyone cannot be tested. Not only does it not make any sense but the latest research has shown that polygraph testing only works when carried out in small groups.
The government had indicated that it would not apply the test to large organizations. This is why it could not be extended to all public agencies. The test we were told only works when carried out on small numbers of persons. I do not know if this is because the polygraph machine overheats, but we must believe the government because they know what they are doing.

They will only apply the polygraph tests on small departments such as the police narcotics branch, the airport employees and the Customs Anti- Narcotics Branch, since these only employ a small number of people, just like the Drainage and Irrigation Board and the Tender Board.
It may be applied to persons applying in the future to become cadet officers of the military but please, it should not be applied to those who have been accused of roughing up prisoners and suspects. No need at all. We must trust our investigators and not seek to prejudice the outcome of investigations with the use of lie detector tests.

We also have some brilliant ministers in Guyana whose intelligence is simply dazzling. So we should not criticize too much what is being done because the benefits of some of these projects that are being implemented will only emerge in the future. It’s like saying that we would not know the benefit of a pump unless we have a flood, later down the line. It’s like saying we would not get the full value of a koker until after a great number of years have passed.
Now that is foresight and vision for you. All the businessmen in Guyana should consider an education in sound business management. You do not need an MBA to know that. Build now; the benefits will come in the future!

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