Those holding political office should not abuse the system for personal gains

Apr 01, 2013 Letters

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Dear Editor,
It is most unfortunate for Guyanese to know that the regime has been stained not only by corruption at every level of governance that has gone unchecked for more than a decade but also drug trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, police killings and brutality, rogue cops, human rights abuses of every kind and lack of transparency in public procurement.
These are but a few of the ills that continue to plague our green land of Guyana and the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal has done very little so far to curb them. In fact, I contend that the granting of radio, TV and cable licenses by Jagdeo during his last weeks in office to his friends, relatives and his political party has made it fertile for most if not all of these ills to continue to progress.
Despite Mr. Ramotar’s posturing at Babu John and elsewhere, his regime has not charged a single official for corruption or any wrongdoing for that matter.
It is true that instead of firing those who were caught in corrupt practices (two senior officials at NCN), the regime has embarked on a mission to deceive the public by dismissing those who report the corrupt practice. This bizarre approach shows that the cabal has lost its ability to think and function rationally and logically because of mental degeneration.
What is even more unfortunate is the fact that some in the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal regard holding political office as an opportunity to enrich themselves, their family, friends and the corporate donors to whom they are beholden.
These political hacks have not only continued to abuse the system for personal gains but they have also deluded themselves that by giving their service to their country for which they are being well paid that they are entitled to unlimited privileges.
As such, they do not see anything wrong with placing their family and friends in advantageous positions for the highest paid jobs and for receiving lucrative contracts from the government.
They do not see anything wrong to use the taxpayers’ money to benefit themselves, relatives and friends or to spend it to build the Marriott Hotel without the people’s approval.
They do not see anything wrong with the fact that corruption is widespread in all levels of government from top to bottom. They do not see anything wrong that 95 percent of all heads of government agencies/corporations are staffed by one ethnic group.
They do not see anything wrong with giving seniors a meager pension of $10,000 (now $12,500) per month while paying the former president the huge sum of $3 million per month.
They do not see anything wrong with building Taj Mahals while the poor mothers and children of Plastic City cannot afford a proper shelter or even a meal. And finally, they do not see anything wrong with giving billions of dollars in contracts to Chinese contractors who refuse to hire Guyanese workers.
Is this regime for real? I urged the people to stand up for their rights and put an end to the 20 plus years of this dictatorial PPP cabal.
I acknowledge that every political system has been affected by corruption of some sort—known in common parlance as the politics of cronyism. However, this does not mean that Guyanese should accept it.
Those holding political offices should not abuse the system for personal financial gains at a time when most Guyanese are worst off today than they were twenty years ago when the PPP came to office.
Inflation and the lack of jobs, especially for the youths, with decent living wages have taken their toll on them for the past decade and there is no end in sight. The cabal is determined to oppress youths, the workers of Guyana, and the people.
Cronyism has reached a new level of depravity in Guyana where some in the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime are being appointed to senior government positions with no regard for qualifications or pertinent experience.
Although I admit that this is not a crime, it is nonetheless corruption, and I do not believe or expect the cabal will take the necessary steps to clean it up anytime soon. In fact, they are encouraging it by placing their ardent supporters in senior positions without the necessary qualifications or experience.
For example, UG is perhaps is the only university we know that have non-academic and non-intellectuals and PPP hacks on its Council, the highest decision making body of the institution.
Simply put, the cabal is not interested in reducing or ending corruption because it is alleged that they are the principal beneficiaries of it.
My recommendation is that there should be an audit by a bipartisan committee of Parliament of the individuals in such positions, and anyone being appointed from outside the Civil Service or the Diplomatic Corps to a senior position in the government should have to pass the scrutiny of a parliamentary committee, as is the practice of the Congress of the United States to ensure that candidates’ qualifications and experience match the terms of reference of the position they are selected for or appointed to by the Jagdeo/Ramotar Cabal.
I am asking the majority opposition to stop burying their heads in the sand and to expose those appointed to senior government positions by the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal without the necessary qualifications and experience to function efficiently and effectively.
The opposition must make sure that these appointees declare their assets prior to, and at the end of their term. They must also be required to declare to the tax authorities (GRA) their income and the source of any large deposits made during their tenure.
The opposition must undertake this task in order to help reduce corruption for the sake of the masses because the time has come for those holding political positions to stop abusing the system for personal financial gains.
 Name withheld

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