Dear Editor,
I thought the good folks over at Stabroek News had more sense and actually had their fingers on the pulse of the PPP government and how it operates on the issue of corruption. In its editorial titled ‘Mr Sattaur’s exit from NCN’ (July 2) Stabroek News seemingly fell for the head-fake by the PPP. It reminded us that Mr Sattaur, who was protected by the Jagdeo administration, now has to leave. This, the editorial states that this, “has to be interpreted in the backdrop of the change in presidency and the pressures that have been brought to bear as a result of the PPP/C’s loss of majority in Parliament.” Stabroek News reasoned that the fact Mr Sattaur was dislodged despite his close ties to Mr Jagdeo and the PPP is evidence of President Ramotar’s “imprimatur” as well “as tangible evidence that Mr Jagdeo’s influence is not omnipresent.” I disagree with Stabroek News and find its analysis simplistic. Mr Sattaur had to leave because the evidence of wrongdoing in NCN was incontrovertible. The evidence did not come from within the belly of government but from an external source, GT&T, which created casualties there. The information was based on forensic investigations and audits carried out by reputable accounting investigators. There was absolutely no way the PPP would wiggle out of this one. There was no outlet for the PPP to control the information or to twist the evidence because it had no control over it. This was evidence from an external and independent source. It was going to come out in any event. Plus, how could the PPP explain GT&T’s CEO resigning when he had no direct link to the alleged venality while Mr Sattaur remains as CEO of NCN even if he had no link to any corruption at NCN?
Stabroek News should find out if Mr Sattaur got a compensation package. It should also investigate whether he will be moved somewhere else to fill an official post. I find it shocking that a newspaper with an outstanding record of battling and exposing corruption will fall so naïvely for this tactical move by the PPP, when no independent audit or investigation was conducted at NCN. The PPP’s response to the allegations of wrongdoing involving NCN is a shockingly inept and disgraceful response to allegations of corruption and wrongdoing in any organization. It is the worst and most pathetic way to handle corruption in an organization. I just cannot believe Stabroek News would associate this as being revelatory of some kind of change within the PPP. Stabroek News must exhibit greater journalistic responsibility and vigilance in comprehensively assessing the actions of a government that has vehemently denied or downplayed corruption in Guyana and a governing party that had one of its hallowed sons resign over corruption.
It seems like Stabroek News is forgetting the rule of self-preservation that the PPP inner circle is so familiar with. That inner circle will preserve itself at all costs. It is why Mr Sattaur is gone but NICIL remains untouched. Why would the PPP disregard Parliament to avoid an independent audit of NICIL? Mr Sattaur will turn up somewhere else and all will be back to normal with the PPP. There is a game to be played out in the next few weeks. A few small fish will be sacrificed. Investigations will reveal some junior managerial staff at some government office stole money. One would think that after years in the trenches seeing this monster up close and personal, Stabroek News would be able to see right through the shenanigans.
Yours faithfully,
M Maxwell
