Introduction: Stabroek News has invited the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) to submit a weekly column on governance and related matters. Only APNU and the AFC have submitted columns this week.
The coalition’s leaders and technocrats have been studying Guyana’s biggest problem: government corruption. We intend, from our first day in office, to begin to break down the structure of corrupt dealings that the Jagdeo/Ramotar administrations have built. We are convinced that this problem is the largest single reason for our citizens’ lack of personal development. Corruption is defined as the use of public office, by government officials, for their private gain. The current Jagdeo/Ramotar regime has built a structure of corrupt practices which now exists and flourishes on an industrial scale. Dismantling it will require ferreting out corrupt transactions, case by case, diligently and with determination. The APNU+AFC coalition is committed to doing it. Leaders, policymakers, public servants and government officials have to stop stealing from the people.
The coalition has not only been talking about corruption; opposition officials have been taking action. The partnership’s objections to projects such as the PPP-proposed specialty hospital, CJIA Airport expansion, the Marriott Hotel project, and non-support for the Amaila hydropower plant, have been the result of our objection to the questionable manner in which those projects have been conceived. The coalition wants real development, not white-elephant projects from which Guyanese will not benefit. The partnership desires a better life for all Guyanese. We cannot – in good conscience – support grandiose projects which will only fill the pockets of officials with kickbacks and bribes. But, in the past, the partnership could have done only so much from the opposition benches. However, as we prepare to serve the people of Guyana in a government of national unity, our country’s new servant-leaders will be in a position to take direct action against this national scourge.
To destroy the culture of corruption, we must have answers to three questions: what are the efficiency consequences of corruption, how much corruption is there and what factors determine the level of government corruption? In this article, we will examine the first of those questions; what are the consequences of corruption?
First, corruption depletes the national wealth. When contractors – in collusion with corrupt officials – inflate the estimated cost of projects, the extra money is given, as kickbacks, to the same government officials. This “extra money” comes from the treasury – from taxpayers. Therefore, taxpayers’ money which should have been used for real development, is unlawfully diverted to the bank accounts of government officials. This practise makes the country poorer. Officials, though, get to live large – buy luxury vehicles and build mansions – using this stolen money.
Second, corruption leads to substandard work. When government officials give contracts to unqualified friends and cronies, the work performed is often defective and of poor quality – if any work is done at all. And contractors cut corners to pocket even more money. When this happens, roads deteriorate within months of being built, stellings collapse, schools leak and the walls of buildings develop cracks. As Guyanese, we know of countless instances of such shoddy workmanship. The results: our children are housed in unsafe schools, our vehicles are damaged by potholed roads, our lives are endangered by unsafe structures — even as our tax-dollars flow into private pockets. The coalition will put an end to this state-of-affairs.
Third, corruption distorts the economy. Corrupt governments do not undertake projects that are needed by the citizens, instead, they choose projects that will generate the biggest kickbacks and bribes, for them. Because of this, they fund projects that are not needed, and neglect those that benefit citizens. In Guyana, we have a luxury hotel – Marriott – built with taxpayers’ money, money that could have been used to invest in better education delivery at the University of Guyana or to provide pure water to households instead. Government wants to build a specialty hospital, while existing healthcare facilities do not even have basic medicines or equipment. The ruling clique wants to spend billions to build a new airport terminal building, while children in the hinterland have no shoes. Because of greed, officials undertake unneeded projects – to fill their pockets – while the ordinary people suffer. The APNU+AFC coalition will ensure that this practise stops.
Finally, corruption causes citizens to lose trust in their own government. People become cynical; they think that all governments behave this way. But that is simply not true. Government exists to serve the people, not rule over them. True leaders will give of themselves, for the sake of the country, not take from the treasury to fill their pockets. The APNU+AFC coalition will restore the trust of Guyanese, in their elected officials.
But how can we be sure that the coalition will not be as corrupt as the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime? Because, the APNU+AFC will practise open governance; nothing will be secret. Civil society and a free press, will keep the new government in line. Additionally, there are internal checks and balances; the Cummingsburg Accord ensures and assures that the APNU and the AFC, will each keep the other party under constant scrutiny. There will be no room for corruption.
On May 11, citizens have the opportunity to chart a new course. Guyanese have the chance to ensure that their tax dollars are put to work to improve their own lives, instead of being siphoned off into the pockets of greedy and corrupt government officials. Vote to end rule by the oligarchs. Vote change.
