Yesterday was named global Anti-Corruption day by the United Nationals (UN) and about 100 Guyanese, joining their counterparts around the world, turned out to march against what UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described as a “social, political and economic disease that affects all countries.”
The event was organised by Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI), the local operative of Transparency International (TI). TI is an international organisation dedicated to the fight against corruption of all forms and wherever it is manifest.
The route of the march was initially intended to take its participants from the Umana Yana to the Office of the President and back, but after leaving the Umana Yana the group marched to Parliament Building, where it was then announced that permission had not been granted for the return march. As such, the crowd dispersed.
Stabroek News tagged along yesterday and managed to speak to a few of the persons who were along for the march. Colin Klautky, a committee member of the Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples told this publication that many Toshaos and village councils are being bribed by wealthy gold miners and loggers looking to secure concessions on their land. The system in Guyana in very corrupt, he said, and argued that this is something every Guyanese should be concerned about.
Public figures including A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP Joseph Harmon and Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan were also on the march.
Ramjattan said he responded to the call since corruption abounds in Guyana, while Harmon shared that he sees huge evidence of corruption in Guyana and wants something done lest the future generations suffer.
The purpose of the march, said TIGI President Anand Goolsaran, was the promotion of 0% corruption and 100% development.
