AFC praises Ralph Ramkarran’s tough stance on Corruption

Jun 18, 2012 News

…Fmr. Speaker warns Govt. not to wait for more accusations

Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan is calling on the leaders in the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) to take a page out of the book of former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran and publicly condemn the scourge of corruption in society.
Ramjattan was referring to an article published in the Mirror Newspaper last week, where Ramkarran called corruption “a tax on development, and retards growth and development by a significant degree.”

Head of State Donald Ramotar

Ramkarran had signaled an intention to contest for the post of Presidential Candidate for the PPP/C in the run up to the 2011 Regional and General Elections and has been a staple in the hierarchy of the political outfit for several decades.
“I am so happy that Ramkarran is coming now, that he has seen corruption on all the levels…I would like to see more PPP leaders who know exactly what is transpiring to be honest with themselves to come out as openly as he has done. There are many of them that I speak to, but they only want to tell me that privately,” Ramjattan said.
The AFC Chairman who was also a long time stalwart of the PPP/C’s Executive says “Our country could be the greatest in the Caribbean if corruption is cut; we can have billions of dollars to spend on the people since corruption eats away 20 per cent of the development in Guyana.”
Ramjattan concedes that the PPP is always known to discipline outspoken members and calls it a culture that stifled Ramkarran, especially under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration.
Ramjattan reminded that he paid the penalty for being outspoken in the PPP and this led

to his destiny within the AFC, and as such “Ramkarran should be commended since he is above being disciplined…because he has reached that threshold where nobody can tell him anything and the party should take charge in transparency and accountability.”
The Senior Counsel and former Speaker of the National Assembly posits that Guyana has not been able to contain corruption, and suggests that its existence cannot be denied.
Ramkarran stated in his article that while instances of corruption are known to many, disclosure of evidence is a major problem…“victims of corruption do not wish the

Former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran

circumstances or their names to be revealed because they fear victimization in their continuing lawful activities.”
He noted that President Donald Ramotar needs to articulate new, more advanced and comprehensive legislative and administrative programmes in a timely manner which would strengthen transparency and accountability.
He warns that the Government ought not to wait for more accusations from the Opposition or more allegations in the press.
Ramkarran stated that Government should immediately initiate discussions with one or more international agencies to seek out assistance in dealing with corruption.
“There is no doubt that corruption allegations are being used as a political weapon…But this happens not only in Guyana, but all over the world…If the Government continues to treat the allegations only as politically or defensively, on a case by case basis, it will not win the argument, whatever the facts.”
Ramkarran underscores that “to win such arguments systems must be in place and be demonstrably seen to be functioning independently. If notwithstanding this, corruption or allegations persist, these would then become matters for the agencies established to deal with them or for the police or both.”
He explained that dealing with corruption requires expertise which may not exist in Guyana. But the United Nations, Carter Centre and many other impartial international bodies have extensive experience in advising, recommending and preparing measures to deal with transparency and accountability.
“Corruption retards growth and development by a significant degree. In Jamaica it is estimated that the economy could have grown by 1.5 per cent more had it not been for corruption. During the last elections allegations of corruption by the Opposition were major platforms in campaigns,” he stated.
Ramkarran further argued that unless something is done about corruption, “it will become a monster, if it not already is, that will engulf us all.”

AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan

He added that the Constitutional Reform Commission made its report in 2000. Ramkarran said it recommended a Procurement Commission as a constitutional body with important functions to deal with corruption and the legislative changes were made in 2001.
“It is a shame and disgrace, that ten years on, the Procurement Commission has not been established…For years it has been held up, by one of the most ridiculous excuses that can be imaginable-the rejection by the opposition of the Government’s proposal that they nominate some members and the Government nominate the others. The opposition has demanded that all the members must agree. We have elected them and we pay them salaries to do a better job. The Procurement Commission cannot take more than 72 hours to name, if the tripartite discussions are serious.”
Ramkarran recommended that a crusade against corruption by the Government will introduce a new dimension to its agenda.
He said it will demonstrate to the public that it means business. “It can pay great political dividends because it will silence the opposition and the press and will be a major mobilization factor for the next elections.”
He also underscored that corruption is a tax on development, and according to the World Bank it retards growth and development by a significant degree.