Time to take action on the reports of the forensic audits

Jun 14, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Kindly permit this author some column space to address an open letter to President David Arthur Granger, Brigadier Retired. Mr. President, almost daily one can read in the dailies the summarized or highlighted findings of “forensic financial audits” your administration has embarked upon. We have read of names mentioned in these reports and their oversight of corruption and misappropriation of public funds. What we are not seeing is a parade of high officials charged with these misappropriation not even the ones mentioned. While I understand that one must follow the criminal codes of Guyana and also prosecutorial procedures, what is baffling is that your administration is either incompetent in judicial matters or totally impotent in exercising your mandate to hold those found culpable of public malfeasance.
Mr. President , you’ve mentioned on several occasions that one needs evidence to prosecute folks for crimes. These “forensic financial audits” is the “evidence” and should not be released to publications but forward to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration of charges as the criminal codes of Guyana dictate and not the media. While, I am ardent defender of the public right to know and freedom of the press, this practice should be repudiated immediately.
Mr. President, it seems your administration feels more astute at addressing these criminal matters in a court of public opinion rather than an orchestrated judicial system. The release of the names and findings of these audits hampers any effective future prosecutions of any named individual in these reports. This practice gives great credence to your opposition’s claim your administration is engaging in “witch hunting.”
So far Mr. President only two public officials are before the courts and yet the names released in these reports are more than five times those actually before the courts. It is painfully obvious that your administration has chosen not to prosecute anyone or lacks faith in the judicial system to execute its judicial mandate. If it is the former it would best to not release these reports. If the latter, then have legislation drafted to establish an office of Special Prosecutor and to also one establishing a Special Court to try those charged. The Office of Special Prosecution should be vested with investigative powers, arresting powers, powers to approach the courts to secure warrants for both arrest and seizure of evidence that can make the Special Prosecutor’s case in court. The Special Court should be granted a life expectancy clause, a clear mandate on which cases it will hear and sentencing guidelines for those convicted within the said court. Mr. President you have the tools available to you to effectively bring those named in these reports before the courts.
Mr. President the daily release of findings of “forensic financial audits” does not serve anyone and will pollute any jury pool required to listen to evidence against any named individual. Best practice dictates that a court of law should be the recipient of evidence of malfeasance not the media. Everyone is entitled to a fair trial and releasing these dossiers hamstrings such constitutional rights.
This practice also convolutes our judicial system and brings into question your administration’s true motives. Are these audits being conducted to prove there was misappropriation of public funds with the end result being prosecuting those named? Mr. President the public has a right to know and you as chief citizen owe them this right.
No longer Mr. President are you allowed to hide behind the platitudes of the past year. Mr. President you and your surrogates are not allowed to shirk your responsibilities to place people before the courts, where evidence has shown misappropriated public funds. What people want to read when they open the dailies or turn on their television sets is not the results of another “forensic audit” but that people are charged with public malfeasance. The longer your administration goes without charging people for these crimes the more the public will conclude collectively you’re all chat and no substance. As one person recently put it “when will we see reports of people being charged for corruption and stealing public funds.” Yes Mr. President when?
Finally, Mr. President it is called an election cycle for a reason and May 11, 2020 is less than four years from today. The time has come for those who have abused their public offices to be held accountable. Just like your crime chief expeditiously pursue the small criminals for petty larceny you must expeditiously pursue and charge those engaged in grand larceny of epic and even pandemic proportions. Your failure to do so would send the wrong message, and that message being if you aspire a life of crime with impunity one just needs to become a politician or get appointed by a politician to an office of high standing. White collar criminals do more harm to our society than the small petty thief.
They erode public trust in public officials. They increase the cost of borrowing funds, doing business, and effectively addressing issues of public interest. Mr. President, five thousand two-hundred and fourty five (5, 245) votes gave you your mandate and that is not a great deposit in your political capital account, that number can return your opposition to governance, you to the opposition benches. It is time we the public who have heard so much about corruption to start seeing people being punished for stealing our monies. It is time we see results and not more promises and excuses.
Mr. Editor, thank you for allowing this concerned citizen to air his views.
Ty Talbot

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