Old habits truly die hard

May 05, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Sometimes corruption is a matter of perception. Sometimes corruption is a matter of simple and clear facts. Perception is debatable. Facts are never debatable.
I write to draw attention to the following facts:
1. The Inter-American Development Bank has debarred Guyanese contractor “Vevakanand Dalip” from bidding as a result of “fraud and collusion” effective from 29 December 2017 to 28 December 2030.
2. The Inter-American Development Bank has debarred the business named “Vevakanand Dalip Enterprise” owned Guyanese contractor Vevakanand Dalip from bidding as a result of “fraud and collusion” effective from 29 December 2017 to 28 December 2030.
3. The Inter-American Development Bank has debarred “Sabrina Mary Williams” the wife of Guyanese contractor Vevakanand Dalip from bidding as a result of “fraud and collusion” effective from 29 December 2017 to 28 December 2030.
All of this information can be found and verified on the IADB website at https://www.iadb.org/en/transparency/sanctioned-firms-and-individuals.
In effect, the IADB has blacklisted Vevakanand Dalip, his business and his wife from participating in any bidding process because of fraud and collusion. The bank does this whenever its ethical guidelines have been breached incontrovertibly. It is a clear and transparent process and it is the hallmark of upholding sound ethics and values and ultimately a fair, just and peaceful world.
Yet, the PPP Government has no shame whatsoever in embracing Vevakanand Dalip and rewarding him with construction projects the moment they took office. Old habits truly die hard. I find it difficult to believe that the astute PPP under the stewardship of the ever present Bharrat Jagdeo and the ever willing Irfaan Ali would have missed this fact.
In public office, wrongful conduct either emanates from not knowing better, or from deliberately doing the wrong thing. To use Guyanese parlance, it is either “stupit yuh stupit, or wicked yuh wicked”. I don’t think the PPP is stupit. In this case, they are just plain wicked, shameless and corrupt as usual. It is always about jobs for the boys.
I write also to bring this to the attention of the international community who are always paying keen interest in the governance of this beautiful country, who were so vigilant and interested in our country around the recent elections and who must not ignore such simple and plain facts about corruption in Guyana. To speak out against this would also be the upholding of sound ethics and values and ultimately a fair, just and peaceful Guyana.

Regards,
Ubol Mc Donald
Councillor – Lethem Town Council, Region 9

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