Latest update February 10th, 2025 2:25 PM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

THE ROTTING FISH

Aug 05, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

In South Africa, a top former law enforcement official has been sentenced to a fifteen-year jail term for graft (in his case, accepting bribes from organised crime). This will hopefully send a message about the need for greater probity in public life in that country and encourage those who are erring on the wrong side of the law to mend their ways.
In Guyana, there are concerns about official corruption. From time to time some small fish are fried, some fraudsters are placed before the Courts, but unlike what happened a few years ago in Trinidad and Tobago following a forensic investigation into a major public works project, there have been no charges laid against any major players within our society. Nor have the Americans requested the extradition of any top official or any member of the new oligarchy for involvement in corruption.
Until such time as the Americans file an extradition request for one of the corrupt persons in Guyana, there is likely to be no change in the attitude towards corruption in Guyana.
The Americans, however, are not going to move against any of the big fish unless they see some seriousness on the part of the Guyanese people. And right now the Guyanese people are too busy trying to eke out a living or trying to cash in on the economic bargains to take to the streets to protest what is taking place in the country.
The main opposition has virtually conceded that despite what is taking place in Guyana today, the conditions do not exist for mass protests. Once there is money to be made, and once there are sweeteners being thrown at the masses, there is not likely to be any serious protest against corruption in Guyana.
People may not like what is going on. They may hate those who are stealing from the public purse. But the masses are not going to take to the streets right now, because they are not yet feeling the effects of this corruption in their stomachs.
This is where political work at the grassroots levels has to take place, to make people realize the huge sums that are being put into the hands of the rich in this country while they, the poor, have to struggle just to make ends meet. Three billion dollars is being doled out for the road to a falls that will be tapped for hydropower. Yet the government went to the IDB to secure funding to provide 400 poor Guyanese whose homes are in need of repairs with US$1000 each. For eighty million dollars, to help a handful of the needy poor, the government went to the IDB.
But when it comes to major projects costing billions, the government is finding the money without having to borrow. It will find the three billion dollars for the road to be built by Fip. It will use the Norway money to invest in equity in the hydropower falls and it is even considering investing in the Marriot-branded hotel that is to be built in Georgetown.
The government also plans to find a few billions to import a fibre optic cable from Brazil. The money for this venture does not have to be borrowed. It will come from the sale of the State’s shareholding in the telephone company.
The shares are being sold as one unit. This means that it will be beyond the reach of the workers of the company. The workers cannot afford even if they pool all that they have saved to buy these shares since they are being sold en bloc. These shares are going to benefit the rich because it is only the rich who can afford the outlay for purchasing these shares en bloc.
And all of this will take place amidst silence and lack of any protests because quite simply, the people do not get it. It has not touched them as yet. It is not touching them directly or rather they are not aware of how these decisions are responsible for their own daily problems.
This is the challenge for the opposition and for all those concerned about the vice in which the oligarchy holds this nation. There has been a palpable failure to convince the people that a fish rots at the head and when this happens the entire fish becomes sick, and the tail does not escape the decomposition.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Allicock, Amsterdam named in GBA training squad 2025 Caribbean Boxing Championships

Allicock, Amsterdam named in GBA training squad 2025 Caribbean Boxing...

Feb 10, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has officially announced the national training squad, with the country’s top pugilists vying for selection to represent Guyana at the 2025...
Read More
Interesting transfers, Clubs secure firepower ahead of Season Seven Elite League

Interesting transfers, Clubs secure firepower...

Feb 10, 2025

North East beat Back Circle B; set up semi showdown with defending champs

North East beat Back Circle B; set up semi...

Feb 10, 2025

DCC executive laud Savory, Imlach for champion performances

DCC executive laud Savory, Imlach for champion...

Feb 10, 2025

Dozens of young chess players participate in Kitty Square Mall U-16 C/ship

Dozens of young chess players participate in...

Feb 10, 2025

Shai Hope claims Green Belt and Dispatch of the Season in ILT20 Triumph

Shai Hope claims Green Belt and Dispatch of the...

Feb 10, 2025

Features/Columnists

  • Forward to the past

    Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-Guyana’s debt profile, both foreign and domestic, has become a focal point of economic... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]