There has to be a Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee

Jun 18, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Both SN and KN reported on June 16 of the removal of David Patterson as chair of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Without revisiting what Mr. Patterson did, or who did worse before him, I think it is a step in the right direction, despite the pain. We must make a start somewhere to instil confidence in Guyanese that their business and related spending are conducted in an impeccable manner in the trenches and overseen by people in parliament, who are immaculate in reputation. Now trouble brews, and I must venture into dark, sinister waters.
There has to be a replacement chair of the PAC. It is a foregone conclusion that, if the PPP has its way, he or she will be a party selectee. A particular one among those votes supporting Mr. Patterson’s removal comes to mind. He is ambitious, well positioned and has earned a reputation already for being a bargainer. It is a strong position from which to lobby. Or to listen. His name gives the PPP wisenheimers cover to claim that it is a neutral process and result. Whether it is the man I have in mind, or some other, my apprehensions persist strongly, for I have grave misgivings about where all of this is heading.
This is what the horizon looks like as visualised and as reinforced by reality in our governance environment, democratic to be sure. The PPP decides on the projects. PPP public servant saints spend the billions. PPP leaning auditors (tells of my trust or cynicism level) review the billions expended and whether there was value for money, robust systems of oversight, documentation, and accountability, among other priority issues. And then, there could be the high probability of a PPP controlled PAC and chair in parliament to put a rubberstamp on all the proceedings from before. I will say here and now that this is a fine state of affairs in this democracy.
Now, other citizens may have high regard for the immaculacy of the Presidency and Vice Presidency, as currently embodied. The noble intentions, the steadfast determination to deal with the people’s business fairly and represent them cleanly. And as much as I both salute and scorn such blind trusting charity, I regret that I am unable to summon any such generosity. Even though I am willing to do so, both officeholders have not persuaded through the power of deeds that match their well-prepared smoky, silky words. To put this differently, truth and values are alien in meaning and association with both, and almost the whole kit and caboodle of them. Show me a dozen honest PPP government operators, and I will show Guyana two dozen winning Powerball tickets. But this is a country where from national leaders to ordinary citizens hold their cards close to the chest: none has winning ones to bear. I sense that we are in trouble, billions of dollars in them. It is Guyana’s witching hour, a Black Swan governance event.

Yours truly,
GHK Lall

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There has to be a Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee

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