“This is Guyana.” The story of investigative journalism

Sep 21, 2010 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

We can’t blame the media if curious situations are never explored because information is almost impossible to obtain in this country. One reason for the tightness in which information is secured relates to the smallness of the population.
In countries with vast numbers, the paper trail crosses many hands so journalists are bound to find at least one person who will confide in them.
This is the reason why the Pentagon cannot secure many of its confidential documents. A security memorandum probably goes to the desks of many staffers.
In Guyana, the situation is completely different. We have a tiny bureaucracy and documents pass maybe only through one or two hands. And it ends there.
I tried to ascertain if the DPP had in fact written to the police force requesting an airport dog handler be disciplined because he allowed her suitcase to be searched.
My investigation revealed that the DPP’s letter only passed through two hands in the police force. Those two officers were the only persons who knew about the DPP’s correspondence. Contrast this with a top bureaucrat who failed a breathalyser test at Ruimveldt Police Station.
Many ranks were on duty that night and the media was informed. I then put the question to the officer in charge who confirmed that the incident did take place.
Getting the facts on who got their investments back before CLICO collapsed is not easy. After CLICO’s death, NBS moved to help the helpless ones who lost money by buying CLICO’s bonds in the Berbice Bridge Company. The funds were then used to pay the helpless ones. We cannot get documents on who collected but we suspect that they are all politically connected.
Complicating the reality of the tiny population is the element of fear. Bureaucrats are terrified of this Government. I think a majority of persons in this country are afraid that the Government will victimise them if these people are suspected of giving out information.
Should such a formidable reality deter the press? The answer is no but the press is facing horrible obstacles. The top names are no longer doing journalistic investigations as part of their routine.
Adam Harris is an editor. Bert Wilkinson is a foreign correspondent. Enrico Woolford is in the same league.
You can basically count on your fingers the best names in journalism from all the media houses who are into serious investigative work. As a result of this, the media is staffed with young ranks who have a long way to go. The disadvantage is that serious stories are not being probed.
I can think of three that spring immediately to mind and in all instances the Beharry family is involved. Just months before the GBTI corporate office was completed, its long-serving CEO, R.K. Sharma resigned. The timing of his exodus had to instill curiosity in the media. Furthermore there was no farewell hosted by the bank.
I called the acting CEO, Mr. John Tracey in November last year, and he told me in January of this year, that the farewell event would be on. This is September going on to October.
Two Saturdays ago, while having a Big Mama burger at Big Daddy’s on Parade Street, Kingston, one of the really big GBTI names came up to buy a Big Mama. I asked him if the farewell was ever held. He said no and told me that I cannot quote him because I asked the question on the road.
Next, there is the parking lot controversy outside the Beharry’s home on UG access Road. The family residence stretches almost a quarter of a mile into the UG Access Road. A UG taxi service sprung up to cater for students from the East Coast. The Beharry family applied for an injunction to move the car park.
When the case was called, the Ministry of Works was not represented in court and the injunction was granted. Unless it is contested, the car park is dead. Why was the Ministry not represented in court? Isn’t that spot, public land?
Finally, the Beharry dormitory at UG was named after Edward Beharry. The Beharry family agreed to build the structure on the UG estate with guarantees from the State that all materials and related activities would carry duty free concessions.
Since its inception years ago, UG had no administrative input. UG’s Vice-Chancellor told me last week that UG has absolutely no say in the administration of the dormitory and the intake of students.
Students are interviewed by Beharry’s senior employees. The warden is chosen by the Beharry family. This is indeed a funny situation that needs investigation. But as they say; “This is Guyana.”

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