Five words that fit many Guyanese politicians

Apr 08, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

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(Kaieteur News) – “Pathological liar, incompetent, deeply corrupt.”  It was the damning verdict of a former CIA Director on a US president.  Rough descriptions have been made of Richard Nixon, but not all three of those at one time.  He may have earned one or the other at some time, but not all three simultaneously.  He sensibly resigned, kept his head.

A better man he became.  Closer to home, I repeat those five piercing and damaging words, and ask fellow citizens to determine those to whom they mostly apply.  Personally, I think the best candidates for “pathological liar, incompetent, deeply corrupt” are mostly politicians.  Other areas have them, but not as many as in politics.

Who among Guyanese politicians at senior levels can claim exemption from the condemnation of pathological liar?  How many?  There should be a couple.  But what does a country that’s in dire need of a moral anchor do when pathological liars are as plentiful as flies, mosquitoes?  How do pathological liars develop the ethics necessary for high office, establish minimal standards, laydown that as the blueprint for national development?

When ranking politicians split hairs, shave the truth, play games by omission and evasion, represent deviousness and deflection, then where is the basis from them for the children, for country and people, to grow?  When a leader, whoever he or she is, is immersed in half-truths, enjoys being slippery, and comes across as the consummate con artist, then that’s not a role model, a hero.  Such leaders can command the spotlight by clowning around with one clown show after another.  But, at the core, pathological liars can camouflage wrongdoing, and condone criminal activity for a time only.  Where is the fun, when taxpayers bear the costs?

A pathological liar is a sick individual.  A deceiver that cannot face himself or herself.  An inventor of low breeding.  A burden for a leader, and a disaster for any country.  Matters are made considerably worse, when the chronic liar believes that he or she has a genius for publicity.   I am still weighing how well Guyana features in this regard, but I can report the going is heavy because the upper tiers of Guyana’s political population are so riddled with pathological liars.  Goebbels of Nazi infamy tried his hand, did well: “if you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will come to believe it yourself.”  Lies about how fighting for Guyanese and their oil wealth.  Lies about how oil money is spent.  Lies about projects that stretch endlessly (more millions).  Lies about personal self-enrichment by politicians.

When it cannot be said: This is how it is, here are the rationales, and these are the honest underpinnings, then that’s the substance of pathological liars.  Neither exaggerations, nor fabrications, nor overuse of nuance, but straight talking and facing press and public.  Releasing information that’s requested.  Fearing no exposure, because there’s nothing to fear.  Pathological liars live in the shadows, hide behind likeminded falsifiers, so that their deep corruption can be diluted, incompetence glossed over.  A man or a woman who is not a pathological liar is someone who lives truth, have facts on their side.  Corruption, deep or imaginary, is hated with a passion.  There is no partnership with corrupt operators.  Which Guyanese politician can make that claim, make its stand?  They can’t when family, crony, friend, have the worst reputations in this country.  The only ones that are worst are the politicians themselves.  Incompetence can be overcome, but first the falsifying and deceiving, then covering up, must all go.  Pathological liars convert competence to incompetence.  Shady priorities.  False narratives.  Costly results.  Pathological liars, incompetents, and being deeply corrupt go hand-in-hand.  I submit that Guyana’s politics is overrun with those, with few innocents, fewer clear throats, less clean hands.

Now for my parting gift.  When an ex-CIA Director can label a US president a “pathological liar, incompetent, and deeply corrupt”, there is a harder, larger lesson enshrined.  Recall some roles of the CIA, old or new.  CIA operators have overthrown governments, murdered people, corrupted citizens, violated laws, much more.  So, when an ex-CIA Director calls anyone “a pathological liar, incompetent, and deeply corrupt”, that person has fallen far, is far gone.  It’s what I think of many powerful Guyanese politicians.  They pollute the atmosphere by their very breath, their sweat.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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• corrupt, GHK Lall, Guyanese politicians, incompetent, Pathological liar

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