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Do the SOCU acts represent the irony of ironies?
DEAR EDITOR,
Guyana seems to be a fertile place for contradictions. Without going back too far, it seems that in almost every sphere of our socioeconomic and political life, we can find examples of someone or some entity doing the exact opposite of, or contrary to what was expected or promised. In light thereof, the revelations on the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) came as no surprise to many.
SOCU, an entity established to investigate organized crime – money laundering and related illegal operations/businesses – has yet to successfully charge and prosecute anyone for such crimes. Meanwhile, they have been going after high ranking PPP/C officials for alleged mismanagement, misused and overreached money from the national treasury, and supposed undervalued sale of lands at Pradoville. So far, however, they have said a lot, but did very little in such pursuits. Despite the many statements about possible criminal acts supposedly committed by the PPP/C during their tenure in government, no serious charge has made it through the courts.
The current revelations surprised no one. In fact, this may be the tip of the iceberg not only for SOCU, but for other public entities where similar findings are very likely. Getting back to SOCU, the recent revelations sound like the irony of ironies. The audit reports are damning. An entity which over the last four years has been investigating fraud, now finds itself at the receiving end with public cries for an investigation. This select group of functionaries probably felt they were the ‘favorite bunch’ who can do no wrong or come under scrutiny because of their PPP/C witch-hunting enterprise.
SOCU stinks of acts akin to the recent acts/behaviour of the government that ran afoul of the rule of law and the constitutional provisions. For instance, the President had stated that he respected the ruling of the court but at the same time flouted and refused to comply with its order. SOCU, the child, has adopted some of the parents’ behaviour – spend without accountability – as part of their functional socialization process. Instead of investigating fraud, SOCU is now accused of perpetuating fraud.
Yours sincerely,
Ronald Singh
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