More trauma to the national psyche

Sep 24, 2014 Editorial

It would be interesting to know the source of the legal advice that the police received concerning any action stemming from Leader for the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan’s complaint against Finance Minister, Ashni Singh. The police are saying that no charges can be laid against the Minister since the matter did not merit criminal investigations. Tax payers would be understandably concerned at this appearance of legal sanctions being applicable only to the working class and not to members of the newly-arrived elite class.
Mr. Ramjattan has thus far placed all the facts as he knows them in the public domain, and the only other position we are presented with is that the complaint can only be treated administratively. This has to be high comedy at its farcical best. The police have a duty to inform the rest of the citizenry how it is that a purported violation of the financial laws of this country does not qualify for its attention.
Yet at the same time the force allows itself to be used to cover-up the glaring indiscretions inherent in the virtual criminal negligence of public officials who failed to conduct due diligence in the Surendra scam. The result is more trauma to the national psyche, with the nation being told speculatively that the country is likely to come out with a gain. The utterances in these serious situations do not reflect a full grasp of reality and are identifiable with the ubiquitous card sharps in the Stabroek Market area with their brisk business of three-card Monte.
We can only hope that the mere passing the buck over to the police does not mean that that is the end of the matter. Any layman would realize that there are civil legal remedies inherent in this whole officially-endorsed project which has turned out to be the latest in a string of high-profile scams.
What the burdened taxpayers should not be surprised at is if they are told that suits have been filed and then nothing else is heard. The matter would have died a natural death, since the very real possibility exists that persons in high office would have already collected their share of the hundreds of millions squandered on Surendra. What is needed now more than ever is the vigilance and diligence committed to keeping this and similar issues on the front burner of national consciousness.
Not surprisingly is the seeming malaise on the part of the administration to investigate if a convicted felon, who has moved to the court seeking judgment in a disputed property matter, acquired his assets through criminal transactions related to the illegal drug trade.
The alacrity and zeal with which the GRA pursues those who are critical of the shady dealings that have become the norm in government’s business would be welcomed if similar measures are taken against criminal elements of the uncritical minority. Furthermore, if the Special Organised Crime Unit can be given the intelligence and resources to go after questionably obtained assets, this could signify seriousness of intent to back all the rhetoric demanding absolute and blind support for the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill.
It is simply inconceivable that of 858 reports of suspicious financial activity only one was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and there is every reason to believe that official. The rigidity with which the lowly taxpayers are expected to comply with respect to the relevant laws is ignored when it comes to how some foreign investors and the nouveau riche class behave, indicative of a high level of contempt for our laws, values and customs.
The situation is certainly not helped by an almost fawning acceptance of breaches to the extent where government officials fall over themselves defending the indefensible. These antics are meant only to pacify those affected investors and local businesses which have been feeding off of Guyanese suffering and misery.
Dr. Anand Goolsarran’s departure from Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. is to be regretted, since he has been an unrelenting advocate for good governance, transparency and greater public accountability. This column wishes Dr. Goolsarran its very best wishes in his future endeavours.

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