We desperately need an innovative stride in the fight against corruption

Apr 30, 2019 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

The news over the past two weeks has been inundated with conflict of interest and corruption on a daily basis. This is nothing new on the media landscape since the turn of the Century, except that the accusations of conflict of interest have now been leveled at people on top of the proverbial food chain (Ministers). The general public continues to read and watch the drama unfold in apprehension. This is nothing new to the public, for generations since independence the general public has been tossed to and frown like debris on the beach amid a sea of corruption that has become more turbulent in recent times. The public had long ago accepted and subjected itself to its faith. The public has no choice but to remain a passive onlooker. The concept of Article 13 of the constitution which verbally allows the people to participate in the decision making that directly affects their well being remains a distant mirage. The battle, the debate, the power to transgress on the coffers of the people did nothing more than change hands from the PPP to the Coalition. The latter (coalition) seems to have taken the transgression to an unprecedented level in anticipation of its failure to maintain its position in the impending power struggle (coming elections).
While it is perceived that the former regime was content to pass the bread to friends on the outside for safe keep. The present crop seems to trust no one with their bread (the people’s bread). They have chosen to keep it as close to home as possible, hence a term (conflict of interest) that had scarcely reared its head in the past has now become prevalent. Some may say it’s just conflict of interest but the truth is, it is the foundation of corruption. It needs to be nipped in the bud for the battle against corruption to succeed.
The AFC and APNU while in opposition were vocal in their call for a Public Procurement Commission (PPC), allegedly to stem the tide of corruption in procurement in the past regime. Has the initiation of the PPC by the Coalition seen a reduction in corruption? I think not. The PPC has not cited or stopped a single incident of corruption since its inception. The PPC like the integrity commission has failed to stem the tide of corruption and conflict of interest in public procurement. Public confidence in these two organizations has hit rock bottom a long time ago.
The PPP when faced with allegations of corruption in procurement were quick to point out that their procurement policies were in harmony with internationally accepted methods. The Coalition added a PPC to those methods and the result is an increased perception of corruption. We have no option, except to conclude that what works on the international scene on public procurement does not work here. Is it something about our psyche or the inclination of our politicians for graft? While accusation of corruption through tendering has been hurled from politicians in opposition to government, I have not heard any politician, on the government side nor the opposition, expressing any dissatisfaction or contempt for the system- those on the outside (opposition) fancy their chances of getting on the inside (Government). They are all set on sleaze!
In the news a while ago, an employee was caught changing figures on a tender document at NPTAB. A Berbice contractor complained bitterly of not getting any contracts despite bidding the lowest. He accuses the engineers of bloating the estimates and passing the information to specific contractors. Presumably, because of kickbacks! It is common knowledge that the tendering system favours the bidder closest to the engineer’s estimate. There is no law to dictate that a contract should be awarded to the lowest bidder. Last year the Auditor General cited some ten contracts in Berbice where all were given to the highest bidder. Is that competitive procurement by the state? The above paints a picture of chaos, confusion and skullduggery, leading to corruption in the tendering system.
Despite the fact that our internationally renowned tendering procedures are not working in Guyana, not a single politician is prepared to acknowledge that. So where would any innovative ideas to stop the assault on the treasury come from? Corruption has become so pervasive and acceptable that honest people in public life are being laughed at, if it is perceived that they are in position to illegally cream off some of the state’s pie and does not.
We need to take the human element, with all its greed, graft, and kleptomania out of the tendering system as much as possible.
Why can’t we have a group of competent people, quantity engineers included to provide an estimated price on everything the government needs to build or purchase. These prices should be published so every interested contractor will know what price they would be paid if they get a contract. All interested contractors should submit prequalification documents with a letter of interest for specific contract. The tender board should invite them to a location where the contract or contracts will be won by raffling; replacing their names with numbers, the media and the public should be invited too. In this manner, no contractor will be obligated to any engineer, government official or anyone for winning a contract. Even a Minister of government could win a contract with no conflict of interest in this method.
As a nation, we desperately need an innovative stride in the fight against corruption before oil and gas. Taking the buck away at the top by raffling contracts! We may see a shortage of politicians in the future – some people will never be politicians if the opportunity for graft is not present.

Rudolph Singh

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