Attack Corruption

Feb 06, 2012 Editorial

This newspaper has long identified corruption as one of the challenges that must be confronted in Guyana. We would hope that under the new dispensation in parliament and the body politic, the opposition will move from verbal criticisms to conducting actual investigations and taking appropriate action.
Generally, corruption is regarded as a consequence of political and economic, socio-ethnic, and even moral reasons: politicians need votes; businessmen need favours; office holders favour “their own” and all these are judged to be “bad” reasons for making decisions that involve the patrimony of the state. After all, the latter is supposed to be held in trust for all the citizenry and to be distributed fairly.
Now all the foregoing might very well be true as far as the genesis of the phenomenon of corruption is concerned, in our country. But today the perception of corruption is so pervasive that it has become the overriding factor that defines both the state politics and economy, and even social relations in our society.
With the departure of the British, especially after 1968, we gradually but inexorably created a new form of the state and political system – in which their foundations are firmly based on unmitigated, absolute corruption.
We do not believe this was appreciated enough in the euphoria of 1992. Corruption expropriated the political system, altered the state apparatus to itself, and promulgated new “rules of the game.”
As a consequence, political authoritarianism and social demagogy of those in power became almost an unavoidable product of the pervasive corruption in the state system. It is important to note that it does not matter what the nominal form of the state might be: what we will now have is a liberal-corruption, socialist-corruption or conservative-corruption state etc. And it almost does not matter who is in office.
In this new world where corruption has become the norm, democracy and its undergirding principle of the “rule of law” inevitably become subversive elements which are just as inevitably countered by authoritarian Presidentalism.
The democratic system of checks and balances, legislative and judicial autonomy, an unfettered and free press etc. are concrete mechanisms that facilitate an effective struggle against corruption.
Consequently, the only path of survival for such corrupt systems (of whatever variety) is to attack and eliminate democratic principles from state and societal processes.
Take the problem of bribery and graft that is so prevalent in our country. There is a great outcry as to why the constitution, laws and regulations are not applied with the same vigour to all transgressors. But the problem is that we all participate in the corrupt practices and only complain when we are not successful or our competitor gets something we wanted.
However, there is a more insidious aspect to the widespread acceptance of bribery and graft by those in power. When a citizen proffers the bribe and the official (from the traffic officer on the streets to the Minister in his air-conditioned office) accepts it, they both fulfil their immediate wants.
But most importantly from the standpoint of maintaining the corrupt system in place, the transaction means that the citizen tacitly accepts the status quo. He boasts of having “lines” and the corrupt administration knows that he is less likely to storm the bastions of power. Corruption becomes a substitute for violence.
We have written much about the need for the establishment of institutions that can take a pro-active approach in eliminating corruption. The opposition, with their newfound majority in parliament, may hopefully take a vigorous approach in this area.
Then there is the role of the press. Corrupt individuals become incensed when incidents of corruption are reported by the press. They would rather that corruption go unreported, or at worse, be blamed on ‘bad people’.
The true extent and nature of the corruption – which is the political system itself – must be hidden from view. The press will have to play a positive role in identifying the real sources of corruption.

Latest News

Attack Corruption

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Rutherford gets big payday from Gujarat Titans at IPL 2025 Mega...

Roach and Seales star as West Indies close in on...

Delroy Tyrrell continues to excel at Oneonta...

Ramdass Royals Crowned Champions of the Inaugural...

KFC Guyana distance self from delayed payment of...

Ravens and Royals ready for epic Elite 16 final...

Features/Columnists

A call for more cultural centres

Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all

Political constants: opportunism, ambition or betrayal

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Attack Corruption

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]