Guyana’s corrupt value system: the indifference of Guyanese in general and the silence of pastors

Jun 29, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – On June 22, 2025, a local news report indicated that the police had launched a fresh investigation into the murder of Ricardo Fagundes, also referred to as “Paper Shorts”. Public opinion claimed that persons with knowledge of the crime were closely connected to the PPP and its leaders. For over four years, the investigation of the matter was dormant. Suddenly, with its political fortunes threatened, the PPP government is trying to tell Guyanese that new information on the matter recently emerged and a renewed effort to find the killers had begun. During the dormant period, Guyanese, including educated ones were indifferent to the inaction of the PPP government. Pastors were silent.

On June 5, 2025, the United States of America (USA), through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), sanctioned a senior officer of the Guyana Police Force for drug trafficking. You read correctly; a senior superintendent of police is a drug trafficker. He was sanctioned along with three other Guyanese for a similar activity. Despite the seriousness of the accusations, more than two weeks have elapsed, and the Government of Guyana cannot tell the nation that it has launched an investigation into the activities of this law enforcement officer and the others who were sanctioned at the same time. Guyanese, including educated ones, are indifferent to the inaction of the PPP government. Pastors are silent.

On May 29, 2025, Azruddin Mohamed was charged with making a false declaration to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) with the intent to evade taxes on a 6500 cc Lamborghini. Though the accused revealed the exchange of communication, which clearly showed the involvement of the PPP government in the matter, the government pretends that it was misled. Guyanese, including educated ones, are indifferent to the duplicitous behaviour of the PPP government. Pastors are silent.

On April 23, 2025, an 11-year-old schoolgirl reportedly died by drowning. Though her body was found in the hotel pool in the place where she disappeared, a search of the pool earlier by several persons indicated that the child’s body was not in the pool before it was discovered there the next morning. A second autopsy was conducted on the child’s body and the pathologist concluded that the death of the child was highly suspicious. The government has since failed to launch an investigation into what can be described as the suspicious death of the innocent girl. Guyanese, including educated ones, are indifferent to the inaction of the PPP government. Pastors are silent.

On June 11, 2024, in a first set of sanctions imposed by OFAC, the businessman who was charged for tax evasion was sanctioned along with his father for gold smuggling and money laundering. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs was sanctioned along with the businessman. More than one year has passed and the government has not launched an investigation into the misconduct of the sanctioned businessmen or the Permanent Secretary. Guyanese, including educated ones, are indifferent to the inaction of the PPP government. Pastors are silent.

On October 24, 2024, an Assistant Commissioner of Police was charged with money laundering and other financial crimes. Though the accused has been dismissed from the police force, others who were clearly connected to the wrongdoings of the former Assistant Commissioner have not been touched. Guyanese, including educated ones, are indifferent to the inaction of the PPP government. Pastors are silent.

On June 19, 2022, Vice News aired an episode on Guyana in which the Second Vice-President was caught in an undercover operation promising government favours to foreign private investors. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, more than three years have elapsed, and the Government of Guyana has not launched an investigation into the allegations surrounding this person. The failure of the government was so obvious that the UN Human Rights Committee raised the matter in March 2024, and the government remains intransigent. Guyanese, including educated ones, are indifferent to the inaction of the PPP government. Pastors are silent.

The immoral conduct and poor leadership referred to above in the small sample come from the PPP, a political party that pretends that it does not cheat in elections. Equally egregious is the conduct of some Guyanese who should know better. As they join the PPP conscious of its corrupt behaviour, they have the audacity to encourage other Guyanese to vote for the edifice of corruption built by the PPP over its many years in power. Should the PPP be re-elected in the upcoming general and regional elections, it will be a statement to the world that Guyanese prefer the existing value system of corruption, and obedience to its laws is irrelevant.

Sincerely,

Mervyn Williams,

Former Member of Parliament.

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• Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana’s corrupt, Paper Shorts, Ricardo Fagundes

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