Put up or shut up

Dec 28, 2015 Editorial

Almost every day, the nation is being bombarded about the corrupt practices at NICIL and other state agencies, but after spending $137 million on audits, the government has not filed charges against anyone culpable of corruption.
The audit report on NICIL has revealed that billions of dollars are either missing or unaccounted for, but the government has opted to send the head of NICIL and his deputy on leave.
It is reported that the head of NICIL has misled the nation on several occasions about the entity’s financial transactions with the Marriott Hotel, the Berbice Bridge and the development of several acres of land at Pradoville Two that benefited an ex-president, ex-ministers and their friends.
The inaction by the government to file charges against the head of NICIL seems very suspicious. The head of NICIL seems to be very pompous. Not only has he criticized the auditor’s report as being both false and biased, but he also told the government in no uncertain terms that he did nothing wrong and he is prepared to defend himself in court.
For the last decade, the operations of NICIL were secretive and corrupt, and its CEO has shown no remorse for his alleged unethical behavior. In fact, he has told the nation that he did what the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabinet had instructed him to do. The logical question is would he have followed the instructions of the cabinet and jumped off the Kaieteur Falls?
However, the government seems confused about the future of NICIL and appears to be backing down from its campaign promise to file charges against those allegedly involved in corruption. Furthermore, the government has not made the audit reports public or has not issued any statements on their findings. But the people should hold government accountable.
The audit report on NICIL has found some alarming discrepancies about the reckless use of billions of dollars on the Marriott Hotel without the benefit of a feasibility study to determine the hotel’s economic and long-term viability. And it has been alleged that the former PPP administration used public funds to build the hotel without the approval of Parliament.This is both a violation and an abuse of Articles 216 and 217 of the Constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Actby the previous government.
Furthermore, the selection of the Contractor, SCG International by the previous government to construct the Marriott Hotel was done in secret because at the time the company was facing allegation charges for corruption in Trinidad and Tobago.
Furthermore, the award of the contract for over US$50 million a few days before the November 28, 2011 elections was done in a hurry without prior Cabinet approval to facilitate the company.This should be of serious concern for the new government. The former government used revenues from the proceeds of dividends from several public corporations, the sale of State assets and the Treasury to fund the construction of the hotel—a total betrayal of the trust of the people.
It is time for this government to act swiftly and prosecute those who have allegedly violated the laws of the country. Justice must be done to prevent such reckless and crooked behavior in the future. No deeds should go unpunished and status or wealth should not prevent anyone from prosecution for wrongdoing.
No one should be above the laws of the country as outlined in the Constitution. Almost every day, the small man is being incarcerated by judges and magistrates for petty crimes, but it seems that the elites who have embezzled billions of dollars of state funds are investigated for wrongdoing and then set free.
The forensic audits launched by the government six months ago have provided evidence of the pilfering of state funds, yet not a single perpetrator has been charged. Simply put, there is hardly any justice for the poor masses in Guyana. Either the government put-up or shut-up.

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