Following on from last Friday’s editorial focus on corruption in Latin America, we believe that it would be clear to most people that, although many things have changed for the better in Latin America in the last few decades, profound problems of democracy and governance remain.
Yes, dictatorship is supposedly a thing of the past and electoral democracy is the order of the day. Commensurately, economies are generally more open, poverty is being alleviated and the middle classes have been growing. Venezuela is, of course, an exception and perhaps best exemplifies the fact that deep structural, cultural and political fault lines still exist across Latin America and they threaten to derail progress towards full-fledged and sustainable democratic governance.
Last Friday’s leader and this conclusion inevitably raise questions about corruption and governance in Guyana since 1992, when the PPP/C came to power, hailing the “restoration of democracy”, and more especially since 1999, when Mr Bharrat Jagdeo assumed the presidency. Indeed, it would not be unfair or inaccurate to say that, with the dramatic rise of cronyism, corruption and criminality under the Jagdeo administration, continuing under President Donald Ramotar, President Cheddi Jagan’s 1992 promise of “democratic, accountable, clean and lean government and efficient governance” has been more honoured in the breach than the observance.
In December 2014, when Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index revealed Guyana to be still the most corrupt country in the English-speaking Caribbean, the government and its adherents preferred once again to dismiss Guyana’s dismal ranking as being based on nothing more than a flawed methodology.
Nevertheless, the local anti-corruption NGO, Transparency Institute Guyana Inc, renewed its calls on the government, among other things, to appoint members of the Integrity Commission and the Public Procurement Commission; to implement anti-corruption and whistle-blowing legislation and laws to regulate election campaign financing; to strengthen existing anti-corruption institutions such as the Police Force; and to ensure that all public moneys are placed in the Consolidated Fund and no public expenditure is incurred without parliamentary approval.
Suffice it to say, that the government has not acted on these recommendations, nor has it shown any serious intent to take corrective action or hold anyone accountable in the face of several allegations of corruption or, at the very least, procedural transgressions.
The cynics amongst us would not be surprised but even they would have found risible the assertions of PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee that the government did “not support corruption as a matter of policy” and was prepared to “act on it” once evidence was presented, as reported in another newspaper in February, in response to comments made by former British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre that the administration was not doing enough to fight corruption.
Notwithstanding the protestations of Mr Rohee and even the pronouncements of Mr Ramotar that his administration is committed to tackling corruption, the fact remains that the international community and the Guyanese public are far from convinced that enough is being done to fight corruption and exercise good governance in general. The evidence to the contrary is just too overwhelming and to project an alternative reality is to treat the people’s intelligence with contempt. Such behaviour only serves to reinforce the existing disenchantment with our politics and politicians.
So, with just over six weeks to go to the elections, it would be advisable if all politicians and citizens bore in mind that paying mere lip service to principles of good governance and democracy is not sufficient; firm action has to be taken. Corruption is a plague on our country and an obstacle to equal opportunity for all and sustainable, equitable development. The campaigning parties must give an ironclad commitment that systems will be put in place, the rule of law will be respected and wrongdoing will be punished. No one is above the law and the example must be set by our leaders. Fighting corruption is not for the compromised; nor is it for the faint of heart or the weak of will.
