We will not be swayed - We will keep our promises

We will not be swayed – We will keep our promises

Apr 29, 2018 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

In 2011, A Partnership for National Unity – APNU – promised the Guyanese people that we would ensure good governance practices in all agencies and institutions. Further, we promised to embrace accountability (transparency, disclosure and redress) and strong oversight in monitoring to ensure the effective delivery of goods and services to the people. APNU promised a return to the rule of law and respect for human rights.
As a coalition of parties, we assured the nation that if elected to office we would ensure that there would be recourse to remedial bodies, such as the Ombudsman, Police Service Commission, Procurement Commission and the Human Rights Commission. We recognised that the underlying principles in strengthening a weakened judicial system would be equality before the law, irrespective of wealth, rank or political connections.
APNU told the electorate that we would move vigorously to stamp out the scourge of corruption. We assured that the rights to personal property would be protected, where the assets had been fairly acquired. All business activity would be facilitated by the strict observance of physical and intellectual property rights, and by corporate codes of conduct.
Upon assumption to office in 2015, the APNU+AFC coalition government immediately set about delivering on the promises made. Several Commissions of Inquiry and forensic audits were empanelled. The scale of malfeasance and poor governance exposed by these inquiries and audits was mindboggling.
Prior to entering office, we were aware of some of the degeneration and decay, but nothing prepared us for what the inquiries and audits uncovered.
The Council on Hemispheric Affairs rated Bharrat Jagdeo’s performance as president as fifth-rate. They credited his presidency with stagnation, violence, corruption, arch- sectarianism and unfettered crime, and said that he would go down in history as a man who did almost nothing for his nation while in office.
Jagdeo’s tenure in office is also remembered for the spike in violent crimes experienced throughout Guyana, an issue exacerbated by the repeated extrajudicial killings on the part of state authorities.
It is no secret that Amnesty International wrote to President Jagdeo in 2001 demanding prosecution of any officials involved in extrajudicial violence. They accused the government of failing to protect the fundamental right to life of its citizens, by not taking measures to prevent such killings. It is apposite to note that although several police officers were indicted for their participation in extrajudicial killings in 2004, none were convicted.
The scale of corruption during the Jagdeo years robbed the treasury of Guyana of billions of dollars. One such was the single sourcing of drugs. Single sourcing of any item means that the purchase price may not be competitive and if that were not irregular enough, it was revealed in the National Assembly that the drugs were paid for “up front”- in other words, Guyanese taxpayers funded the seller’s operations.
These days, Jagdeo uses his weekly press conference to piously pontificate on everything, including accusing others of corruption. That Mr. Jagdeo has the audacity to lecture anyone on corruption and good governance, when the most flagrant acts of corruption and obscene levels of lack of transparency and accountability occurred under his watch during his controversial and uninspiring presidency, is laughable.
The Coalition government will not be swayed by the recent legal shenanigans of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP).
The recent legal actions filed by members of the PPP against sitting ministers of the government is just another attempt by a political party that is aware that investigations have revealed that during its tenure the nation was losing billions of dollars each year through procurement fraud and other corrupt activities by high public officials.
Jagdeo and his cohorts can be assured that we will keep our promise to the people of Guyana and this coalition government will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that those who held public office and engaged in malfeasance while in office are brought to justice.

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