Dear Editor,
Please allow me to reply to the response of the Chairman, Rev. Dr. General Bishop Oswald Smith `False allegations were levelled at me by Commissioner Khan’ SN February 24 which was a response to my letter: `The ERC failed in its mission to unite Guyana’ as published in the media on Sunday, February 14th, 2021. I must point out that one cannot attempt to “put the record straight” with a response that is baseless and one which tries to whitewash the realities within the ERC as it relates to the wasting of taxpayers’ money and the many other incompetencies of the general management of the ERC.
At this juncture, I wish to make it pellucid that I have nothing personal against the Chairman and furthermore, I am not on a mission to decimate him or his character. However, as a tax-paying citizen of this country, I must speak with respect and honour for what is right for the nation of Guyana and the Guyanese people.
As one within the ERC to witness the inconsistencies, the lack of fair play for facilities and privileges and favouritism and some who are empowered by the Leader of the Opposition and Former President, David Granger; the fact that the ERC, through its chairman, refused to condemn the realities of what existed but would rather issue petty press releases — which they have become specialists in — called for much awareness.
Further, for emphasis, I wish to reiterate that the Chairman canceled the trip that was organized by the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Norman McLean for the Commissioner of Police and the Brigadier along with their teams to escort us in the disrupted areas in Region 5. This was canceled arbitrarily without notice, even to the surprise of the Vice Chair. To me, this shows a conflict of interest and possible political instruction from his handlers.
While I do not wish to have a public debate with the Chairman of the ERC, I cannot comprehend that a man of his calibre—a servant of the Most High God—will lie to the world, to the country, to the Speaker of Parliament, to the President of Guyana, etc., that the amount of $150,000 for the Commissioners and $100,000 for the staff was allocated for COVID-19 relief. In actuality, the monies of $100,000 and $150,000 were, in fact, a Christmas bonus and not a COVID-19 gift! The votes for these exorbitant amounts were strictly for holiday bonuses and not as COVID-19 relief! COVID-19 packages and alternate work days, as well as “work from home” were already established for Commissioners and staff of the ERC. As such, the Chairman’s utterances in his response are essentially an outright excuse to escape the fact that money from the ERC is being wasted and without justification and just cause. To me, taxpayers’ dollars is sacrosanct and a special gift from the Government of Guyana to the ERC and hence, it must be spent wisely at all times. So much so that I am against the costly retreat in New Amsterdam in the midst of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic that is currently in play and for which I reiterate, I voted against. I publicly stated that this is a waste of taxpayers’ monies which could have been spent otherwise in the cause of harmony and peace for the Guyanese people. I find myself constantly asking what the intention of this lavish expenditure is about since we have now reached the legal end of our term. It is indeed unfortunate and tragic that certain person(s) seem to be bent on finishing the money we may have in hand before their departure from the ERC.
Editor, I concur that we have done several noteworthy things. However, in my opinion, much of it was just a “joy ride” and “tourist ride” around Guyana. I say this because very little has been done in these programmes for which there has been little to no follow-up. We have done nothing in these areas where we visited other than giving them lunch.
I completely agree with the Chairman: when selecting individuals as Commissioners, the public should not place wolves in sheep’s clothing. They should not be able to occupy roles and be appointed to senior positions so as to be politically and/or ethnically controlled by their handlers and those who wanted them in those positions, as we have seen in the part leadership of the ERC as it is today.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Hajji
Dr. Roshan Khan
