Sam Hinds not a corrupt politician

Jul 22, 2015 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Former Prime Minister Sam Hinds takes offence (response KN Jul 18) to aspects of my missive promoting the development of solar energy wherein the preceding regime was critiqued for not encouraging local and regional companies’ involvement in green energy development.
The former PM concluded that allegations of corruption were inferred from my letter wherein it was noted that preference was given to Chinese and other international companies in solar development. I made no such allegations of corruption against the PM although several were made by Guyanese, in their conversations with me, against government figures in general.
I am more interested in the need to move forward with green energy development rather than focusing on corruption for which no evidence was ever presented to me – just smears, perceptions, and allegations of corruption were offered.
I found in my travels in Guyana that people wanted to speak with (complain to) someone of authority in government about issues and concerns and to present their ideas to help in development. But party or government officials were inaccessible or willing to listen to them. The same is true about Guyanese in the diaspora. For some strange reason, people in Guyana and the diaspora wanted to relate their problems to me hoping I can find solutions without realizing I am as helpless as them in getting thoughts or ideas or analysis over to officials of the preceding regime.
Numerous times, people came (and still come) to me and asked rhetorically, “Vish, why is or isn’t the PPP government doing this, that, or the other”. I could not provide answers because I, myself, could not make political sense out of some actions and policies of the party of its actors. People commented that the party functioned in strange ways.
People pointed out numerous cases where they sought out government figures for a meeting and told they were busy only to find the officials at rum shops or some other social location. The same is true of requests to meet PPP officials in the diaspora – and their behaviour was the exact same – people complained the officials had no time to discuss issues or meet those who supported and defended them, only to see them at rum shops (and other places I prefer not to disclose).
They were not like the Jagans who found time to meet with people and gave them a hearing. Not unexpectedly, people were/are angry at PPP government figures. Out of frustration in not meeting government officials, not having their problems addressed, being unable to get small contracts to help with development, and the government not sharing contracts widely, people insinuated or made allegations of corruption or assumed the worst.
So Sam Hinds must understand the context in which people developed perceptions of allegations of corruption and why they won’t pay heed “to facts” (if indeed and even if all the facts were presented) to dispel rumors and innuendoes on corruption.
Unlike others, Sam Hinds found time to meet with me on all requests I made. He never turned me down and he was more than generous with sharing his time with me to discuss social and political issues and even energy.
If you got a minute with other government officials, you were lucky. But if you visited their favorite hangout spots, you were sure to find them – they always had plenty of time for their favorite joints. Not Sam; he found time for people regardless of where he was especially in his office. And unlike most others, he did not have a favorite hangout joint.
It was always, joyful and educational to have an exchange with Sam Hinds. He was very engaging and willing to listen and accept sound ideas. He had a terrific sense of humor. He was very resourceful not only on discussing energy but on virtually any social science topic raised as well as on historical matters.
‘He would bring up anecdotes to illustrate his informed points (experiences in his personal encounters going back to when he was a teenager). And did he have many anecdotes on race relations going back to the 1960s; he knew a lot of individuals through his father and related experiences among political figures I never knew. He should pen them in an autobiography as it will make for an interesting reading of aspects of our history.
It would be an injustice to Sam Hinds to suggest or insinuate he was corrupt or was engaged in any dishonorable acts. His character was never impugned and any such interpretation of my missive is deeply regretted.
Sam Hinds is one of the most honorable individuals of the preceding regime. He is most decent, pleasant, moralistic, and courteous, traits one cannot find among too many politicians in Guyana. No one ever leveled an allegation of corruption against him in my conversations with numerous Guyanese.
He was highly respected by the former opposition (now government) figures.
It is suggested that he does not take personally criticisms or objective critiques leveled against the preceding government regime and officials.
He cannot be held accountable for the arrogant behavior, actions, misdeeds, and blunders of others and those who were “hard of hearing” – his former government colleagues must now “feel” since they did not want to hear”.
But the former PM must take cognizance of how and why people developed a certain “perception” or “appearances” about his former government and officials (though not about him).
Vishnu Bisram

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