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Back to square one

Sep 08, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists

In Guyana, it seems that the people’s right to know is no longer paramount, even though the government promised to be transparent and accountable. In the past year, the government has become very secretive, perhaps more than the previous administration.
The dissemination of information to the people seems not to be a priority for the government. The government has been treating the citizens with such indifference with respect to the dissemination of information, it as if the citizens are out of place for wanting to know.
In countries where there is freedom of information legislation, the media can pursue the truth and hold those in public office accountable. It makes the ordinary citizens feel more at ease to know what is happening in the corridors of power. Far too often, decisions are being made by public officials which affect the lives of the people and yet no information is given to them. It is total disrespect for the people’s right to know.
A government that does not consult or even disseminate information to the people could lose the confidence of the people.
However, there is no legislative requirement for government officials in Guyana to disclose any information on anything to the public. Those in government owe no one an explanation on anything they do. They are not obligated to inform the public on any issue. It is done on the goodwill of the government.
There are situations that beg for pellucid, detailed official explanations, such as the controversial China trip and the drug bond scandal, among others. So far, nothing remotely believable has been presented.
In a number of cases, questionable appointments that smack of nepotism, cronyism or naked patronage have been made at the taxpayers’ expense but the public was not informed. The government believed that after some initial complaints from the people, the sounds of dissent would dissipate as time went by.
In other instances, decisions are made by the government that go to the heart of the democratic process and the reputation of the country, but the people are kept in the dark.
The people have not been given any satisfaction for the huge increase in salaries given to Ministers after being in office for only three months or why no one has been disciplined for misconduct. This could send the wrong message. Or is it the message that the government wants to be sent?
The public do not have an axe to grind with any public official, nor do they try to control the agenda of the government, but they believe that in the interest of accountability and transparency, answers must be provided.
In the past year, tens of millions of dollars were spent on the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) and on the forensic audits of several government departments in search of corrupt practices and illegal acts committed by public officials in the last government. The list of misdeeds and corrupt practices cited is staggering, the number of those found culpable of alleged corrupt practices is unbelievable, yet except for a minister and her assistant, no one else has been charged.
What is more troubling and perhaps mind-boggling is that given the findings from the audit reports and the illegal activities unearthed by SARU, no one in the government has been able to coherently explain to the public as to why no one has been charged. The reasons to date have been perplexing to say the least.
The people still have no definitive idea of what the government intends to do with those found culpable of alleged wrongdoing. The administration that promised candour and transparency is now embarrassingly immersed in secrecy.
It is a sad fact to express, but we are back to square one.

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