Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

IS THE GOVERNMENT ENDING CORRUPTION?

Mar 28, 2016 Editorial

The promise made by the APNU+AFC coalition during the election campaign to end corruption if it wins the election has not fully materialized. Corruption still exists in many state agencies and government departments, but it is being hidden because the government thrives on secrecy.
It is clear that the level of corruption today is not on the same scale as what had existed in the previous administration, but it would leave some quite surprised just thinking about it. One of the reasons why corruption still exists is because the government has made only few changes in personnel since taking office almost a year ago.
Make no mistake about it, graft is happening but how rampant is not exactly known because there is no anti-corruption agency to maintain discipline and prevent corruption. Allegations of bribery among senior government officials are not uncommon; it is happening right before the eyes of the people.
Although no one can say with any degree of certainty the frequency with which corruption is occurring, recent reports by this newspaper have revealed that corruption is rampant at the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), GPL, GRA (Customs) and the Housing Corporation among others. Not much has changed in these agencies in regards to personnel and structures.
We are not suggesting that anyone has access to millions of dollars that somehow end up in the pockets other than the ones for which it was intended. But of course, the taxpayers’ money is not always used appropriately.
Leading up to the 2015 election, the APNU+AFC made corruption a major campaign issue with the promise to wipe it out and establish an anti-corruption agency. Now, nearly a year in office, it has probably dawned on the government that corruption is no longer a major issue.
This idea only came about after the government spent nearly G$140 million on forensic audits that did not yield the expected results. The government is in a bind because the audit reports did not provide enough evidence to charge those culpable of theft or corruption. This suggests that either corruption was not as widespread as first thought by the government when in opposition or those who were allegedly involved have done a superb job in covering their tracks.
However, it gets even worse when the President ordered more audits to be done by foreign auditors because the evidence obtained from the local auditors is not strong enough to hold up in court. At a time when the economy is struggling and the government seems to be cutting back on expenses, establishing a whole new agency to deal with corruption has been placed on the back burner by the government.
Although the claim by some that the government does not have the resources to finance an anti-corruption agency, yet it has budgeted G$300 million to celebrate the country’s 50th independence anniversary. Not only has the government priorities been flipped upside down, but there is an urgency for an anti-corruption agency to stamp out corruption.
President Granger has stated that corruption is an ugly practice which digs at the roots of the democratic structures. He was not alone in expressing concern about this ugly practice. The leaders of the AFC have made similar observations. However, the fact that the government has not taken any action to establish an anti-corruption agency has left the people bemused.
It would be no surprise if it emerged that the powers that be are not thinking clearly. They should explain to the people why they did not keep their campaign promise to establish the anti-corruption legislation within the first 100 days of assuming office in 2015.
The government has to be practical about these issues. So a practical suggestion would be to expand the role of the anti-money laundering unit and the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) by adding anti-corruption to their duties to give them the independence and resources to perform their functions. One might be surprised or maybe not at what they might discover.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

 D-Up Basketball Academy Training camp brings Hoop Dreams to Life with Region 3 Jamboree

 D-Up Basketball Academy Training camp brings Hoop Dreams to Life...

Nov 21, 2024

Kaieteur Sports – The D-Up Basketball Academy is gearing up to wrap its first-of-its-kind, two-month youth basketball camp, which tipped off in September at the Tuschen Primary School (TPS)...
Read More
Campbell Eyes Eighth Men’s Physique Title in Final Amateur Outing

Campbell Eyes Eighth Men’s Physique Title in...

Nov 21, 2024

Alphonso, Fung-a-Fat, Munroe among top performers as Stena Drilling Junior Skill Level Tournament concludes

Alphonso, Fung-a-Fat, Munroe among top performers...

Nov 20, 2024

Guyana’s finest Physiques to battle for Glory at Mr. Guyana National Seniors Championship

Guyana’s finest Physiques to battle for Glory...

Nov 20, 2024

CWI names West Indies Test Squad for home series against Bangladesh

CWI names West Indies Test Squad for home series...

Nov 20, 2024

Georgetown romp to 292-run win over Select XI 

Georgetown romp to 292-run win over Select XI 

Nov 20, 2024

Features/Columnists

  • Bureaucracy gone bananas!

    …Peeping Tom kaieteur News- Every morning, the government wakes up, stretches its arms, and spends one billion dollars... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]