Guyana must strengthen checks and balances to fight cronyism, corruption

Aug 22, 2016 News

–Int’l Report

After a detailed examination of Guyana’s systems of governance, an international report is recommending that the nation’s systems of checks and balances be strengthened if it is going to seriously address cronyism and corruption at its core.
According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Guyana should also improve the strengthening of its key institutions as well as access to information.
This will help to increase accountability; balance the dominance of the executive; address issues of impunity, and ensure the rule of law is applicable to all.
The USAID believes that Guyana’s near-term priorities should be assessments in the key areas of rule of law, the electoral system, economic governance and consideration for a small flexible fund to support quick-impact, low-cost changes within key institutions. It said that mid- to long-term priorities should include parliamentary oversight and outreach.
Commenting on the political power systems of the nation, USAID observed that this is concentrated in the executive, and more specifically within the office of the president. The report recalled that President David Granger, a former military officer and elected leader of the PNC/R, was elected to office in May 2015.
It said that President Granger and the coalition government enjoyed a honeymoon period that is now largely over.
According to USAID, “The APNU + AFC coalition is stable and expected to last until the 2020 election, although they need to maintain cohesion and manage tensions arising between the two parties.”
“They ran on a reform platform that promised constitutional reforms and the holding of long-delayed local elections. Their election was the first change of government in 23 years. They say the right things about reforms…However; it is still too early to tell if this reform resolve will last.”
The international body said that the president controls government through his cabinet of government ministers, who are also Members of Parliament (MPs). It noted that MPs are elected through a closed party list system and are answerable to their parties rather than to the voters.
Turning its attention to Guyana’s judicial system, the Development body said that the courts are one of the few means to get redress in the country.
“However, the system is slow and cumbersome. The Attorney General (AG) has asked for donor support to reform the system. Guyana adopted the Caribbean Court of Justice as its final court of appeals and the AG noted that the coalition government inherited sizeable judgments from that court against the former PPP/C government,” the report said.
“Access to justice in the interior is difficult, where the Magistrates’ Court sittings are held in hinterland regional capitals only once every three months, as there is currently only one magistrate. Most of the national human rights institutions are not effective or functioning because of stalled appointments, among other issues.”
The report commented too that there is significant need to reform the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and strengthen its investigations and prosecutions. The international body said that an estimated 90 percent of prosecutions are unsuccessful and it is the least-trusted institution in the country.

1 thoughts on “Guyana must strengthen checks and balances to fight cronyism, corruption”

rs dasai August 22, 2016 at 5:15 pm

Yes, we need to reform the way we think and behave, not the systems.

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