Dear Editor,
Last night (Wednesday) I watched the ongoing debate on corruption and I had to turn off my television in disgust. What put me off was the Minister of Agriculture’s rude and bullying posture in response to Mr David Patterson’s clear presentation, backing his point with minutes of meetings dating back to 2003 onwards, showing that the government has failed to present a name for the membership of the Procurement Commission. In failing to do so they have stalled any possibility of moving forward with forming a commission to ensure that the process of procurement is fair and above board.
The irony is that no amount of shouting removes one’s perception that all is not well. The Minister of Finance’s hyperbolic statement was that Guyana is probably the only country in the Caribbean Region where there is so much transparency in the procurement process in spite of the fact that there is no commission in place. This cannot be taken seriously, it is mere posturing!
No one can deny that corruption has increased in Guyana in recent years. Surely it is a corrupt system that offers some government and party loyalists almost $1 million monthly salaries whilst most professionals and many hard-working people are paid a pittance. In my own case, after teaching at the University of Guyana for more than twenty-five years from 1978-2004 my pension is $9,500 (and I am sure there are many pensioners in the same situation) whilst some “specially gifted people” earn a pension of millions monthly because they have access to taxpayers’ money. “There is no corruption”; “This government has put in place means of monitoring corruption”; “There is transparency.” Please tell that to the Marines!
The struggle for justice must be intensified. It is encouraging to see that young people are not going to put up with the nonsense that is going on for too long. The so called ‘Comrades in the struggle’ during the Burnham era who have turned shamelessly into self-seekers and exploiters can teach the new generation something about power. The evidence is palpably clear that ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ How very disappointing!
Yours faithfully,
Adeola James
