Dear Editor,
Your editorial of November 17, 2014 titled ‘A welcome return by the Ombudsman’ opens yet another PPP can of worms. The leader’s title is self-explanatory and has as its point of departure, the report of the Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore on the complaint lodged by Mr Maurice Arjoon over his dismissal from the New Building Society (NBS). The article, though offering only a snapshot of the many egregious acts of the PPP since acceding to office in 1992, presents a damning indictment of their tenure.
Readers of the editorial are reminded of the sleaze that was a hallmark of the Jagdeo presidency and of the opaque and arcane decision-making process that seemed to characterize it. Among other things, it referred to the “shadowy arrangements for the purchase by the same NBS of the bridge (Berbice) bonds held by CLICO (Guyana) shortly before its dramatic collapse here.” Those arrangements of course were to facilitate the redeeming of deposits by as yet unnamed CLICO bondholders. That the government has kept a firm lid on disclosure of this information and that it is widely felt that the attempted assassination of Maria Van Beek, then Commissioner of Insurance was linked to this issue, is a chilling reminder of how many persons view the previous administration.
Also mentioned in the editorial was that of the cessation of ads to the Stabroek News, a decision that was “made to look as if it came from the Government Information Agency” but one that no one believes. The editorial pointedly stated that “there is little doubt that the Office of the President loomed large during that period with respect to big and small decisions.”
One decision that it did not make reference to was the one relating to the relocation of the transmitting tower at Sparendaam, ECD which then facilitated the conversion of adjacent vacant lands into a government-controlled housing enclave, popularly known as Pradoville 2, where former President Jagdeo now has a palatial residence. These and many other government decisions will have to be re-examined by a future government in an effort to ensure that state assets are not used to personally benefit those who are entrusted to look after same on behalf and in the interest of the people.
Your columnist Dr Henry Jeffrey in his column of November 19 reminds us that the Third Reich which its founder Adolph Hitler famously boasted would last a thousand years, did in fact last only twelve.
It is inevitable, therefore, that the PPP’s reign will at some stage come to an end. At that time many of their secret actions will come to light.
To return to your editorial, there is one aspect of the already famous Ombudsman’s report that the public and the International Financial Institutions will have more than a passing interest in and this relates to the non-response of the beleaguered Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, to his query. Justice Moore’s query was in relation to a supposed exculpatory Bank of Guyana report on the NBS account loss which has been suppressed. That Dr Singh did not favour the Ombudsman with a response, ought not to be that shocking, after all our public officials now see themselves, not as public servants but rather, public masters.
The public, however, will now wait to see if Dr Singh, in light of the Ombudsman’s revelations, will accept Stabroek News’ challenge to “publicly state why he has not responded to the inquiry and make the report available.”
Unless and until the government and its ministers can assuage and dispel the public’s deeply embedded perception of pervasive corruption, this administration, like its predecessor will be viewed as the personification of sleaze.
The Ombudsman, however, has struck the first blow for those who seek redress against wrongdoing by government officials and yes, his return is most welcome.
Yours faithfully,
Ronald Bulkan