Let the chips fall where they may

Dec 02, 2015 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Any investigation into state projects that appeared to have gone wrong should be welcomed in the interest of the public to safeguard the treasury, which is funded by the taxpayers.
Such investigation should focus on accountability, corruption, and identify where things went wrong with a view to preventing a recurrence, and to hold those responsible with personal culpability.
Though the projects may be years old, it is important that the State be held accountable to the taxpayers for money spent without the approval of Parliament. The launch of forensic audits and the Asset Recovery Unit earlier this year to probe the operations of several state agencies, have unearthed some glaring corrupt practices of the country’s finances and irregularities with state assets.
One of those agencies is NICIL, in which unimaginable levels of corruption were allegedly discovered and billions of dollars of public funds were secretly spent on projects such as the Marriott Hotel, the Berbice Bridge and to develop the ocean-front land at Pradoville Two for former government ministers and their friends.
It was a blatant misuse of public funds which could have been used to improve health care and education among other areas of greater importance.
When this new government was in the opposition, it had criticized NICIL and its head, Winston Brassington, for the reckless manner in which it was being managed. It told the nation that as soon as it got into power it would shut down NICIL and jail all those who were in charge.
The opposition viewed NICIL as the most corrupt state entity in the country, because of the secret investments it made on behalf of the government. NICIL has spawned a culture of dishonesty, financial cover-up and greed in government financial transactions.
After more than six months in office, no one has been jailed, and NICIL is still firmly in place. The Minister of Finance, from all indications, is keeping NICIL.
The audit report on NICIL identified many top officials for financial irregularities, so reports in the press that the police are considering charges against these officials over the allocation and sale of the country’s best seaside lands to themselves should only surprise those in the PPP.
But what is the nation to make of the fact that the country’s best ocean-front lands were sold only to Government officials at substantially lower prices than the market value thereby depriving the state of its full benefits. It could only be viewed as stealing.
The Fiscal Management and Accountability Act states that a minister or any public official who conspires or colludes with any other person to defraud the State or make opportunity for any person to defraud the State; or in any manner misuse, misapply, or improperly dispose of public moneys or knowingly permits any other person to contravene any provision of the Act, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable on conviction to a fine and imprisonment.
It is a shame that the former government deceived the taxpayers in such a blatant way and expects to get away with it. It is time for the new government to let the chips fall where they may, because at the end of the day, it is the taxpayer who has to pay for State wastage and graft that occurred under the previous government.
The nation expects results when the forensic audit is done and when the Asset Recovery Unit completes its task. Should this happen, the taxpayers will be much closer to the justice they yearned. It is indeed the responsibility of the government to enforce the law and toughen its stance against corruption and illegal practices.

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