Corruption has to be curbed to spur economic growth

Dec 12, 2013 Letters

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Dear Editor,
The general consensus among the people of Guyana and Guyanese in the Diaspora is that the PPP regime has not developed any programme that will curb corruption, reduce crime or spur economic growth and jobs for the thousands of unemployed youths and those who want to work.
No such programme exists and none is forthcoming since the regime has been unable to deal with those issues, especially corruption and crime. And even though the Minister of Home Affairs is back, that would not make a difference.
The country needs a competent and visionary Minister of Home Affairs, a capable Police Commissioner and a professional and incorruptible police force to take the bite out of crime. The 130 murders Guyana recorded as of last month is far too many for a country with a small population of only 730,000. This means that a murder takes place once every two days in Guyana and the Minister of Home Affairs continues speak on every other issue than the crime issue.
One of the most important factors that stifle economic growth in Guyana and other emerging economies is the perception of corruption at all levels of government. This includes, but is not limited to, bribery, nepotism, cronyism, and money laundering, mostly by senior government officials.
We have seen well-documented evidence which supports the fact that corruption is a deterrent to the country’s economic growth. Guyana’s ranking on the Global Corruption Perception Index is consistently low; yet, the government has done absolutely nothing to curtail the monster of corruption. In fact, some would say that the PPP has encouraged corruption, because in most cases, those connected to the party are the ones most likely to be involved in corrupt practices and will not be disciplined or fired by their PPP masters.
During the past twelve years, there is no evidence that the Jagdeo and Ramotar regimes have done anything to curb corruption, although they are aware of its significant negative impact on the country’s economic growth and sustenance. While both presidents preached a zero-tolerance approach to corruption during the election, there are no serious collective or concerted efforts made to rid the country of this atrocity. Their actions are duplicitous.
Corruption is so pervasive in every level of Government, and any attempt to curb it might unravel some unsavoury events, thus forcing political accountability, political exodus, or early political retirement. We strongly believe that any serious attempt by the PPP to charge one of their own party members for corruption would result in political instability, severe repercussion, and collateral damage within the party, and the leaders are fully aware of this. Their public theatrics are designed to spread propaganda and to fool the masses into believing that the PPP is serious about wiping out corruption but in reality, they are not.
Guyana’s solution to chronic corruption is embedded in a pond of PPP propaganda, distortions and untruths that get stagnated because there is no drainage. It is also entrenched in the PPP government pipeline which contains the rain of corruption. Therefore, we believe that corruption cleansing should begin at the top with ministers, permanent secretaries and all senior government officers, as well as the judicial system and the police force.
What the people have seen and have come to accept as corruption panacea are senior government officials and police bribe-taking scandals, which usually do not reach the court for lack of evidence or missing case dockets. This type of cover-up is aimed at protecting senior party officials and friends of the regime from prosecution and conviction which the regime fully supports.
It is a fact that the PPP regime cannot or is not willing to solve its corrupt practices because it might be counterproductive, in that it will expose and weaken the party. Corruption does not start with the marginalized group and the average citizen; it does not start in a vacuum, and there is no magic wand that can be waved to cure the problem. The logical, parochial thought process would dictate that corruption does not start at the bottom levels of government; it starts at the top with senior party officials and spreads outwards and downwards. Corruption under the PPP regime is a trickle-down process.
We urged the leaders of the opposition Mr Khemraj Ramjattan of the AFC and Brigadier David Granger of APNU to put aside their differences, unite and think about the masses; their continued sufferings, their pains, their despair and hopelessness, their integrity, and forced the stubborn PPP cabal to establish the Integrity Commission; the Procurement Commission; employ collective intellectual vigilance and consistency to replace mediocrity; extrapolate, expose, investigate, publicize, and highlight high-profile corrupt cases, and make examples of those who are found guilty of corruptible practices. This is long overdue.
This would minimize corruption in the top tier of the government where it is needed the most, and its ripple effect disseminated to the ordinary citizens and among the lower ranks of the police force. This tactic, most certainly will have a positive effect on foreign investments, sustainable economic growth and employment, and improve local and international perception. It will bring decency and integrity to all government employees and the nation. And Guyana will no longer be labeled as one of the most, if not the most corrupt country in the Caribbean.
Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh

 

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