Dear Editor,
I like how the AG’s office was eager to disclose quickly and readily information sent to him on the election case. The Government should follow his practice as its regular modus operandi. This will improve the Government’s score on transparency and accountability – areas in which it is scoring badly right now.
In Guyana, both the PNC and PPP have failed to enact real “sunshine laws” that enable citizens to obtain information in the possession of the Government. The current provision of a “Commissioner of Information” position is quite a big joke, as that mechanism has not led to a free flow of information to those seeking information. That seems to be a “Maytag man” position. It does very little more than providing a cushy salary for a retired person, already getting a cushy pension. Dr. Jagan used to call that “jobs for the boys.” What good is it if an officially-designated position cannot secure the information for the requestor? Telling you to go ask an agency yourself is no help to the requestor. I call on the Government and Opposition to enact some real “sunshine laws” that impose penalties on those hiding and refusing to provide information. Thanks to the independent papers – Stabroek News and Kaieteur News for digging up information for us.
If the AG’s “Doctrine of Disclosure” was being followed, we would have heard about the “Indiagate” problem involving our High Commissioner since 2021. If information is disclosed readily, the nation would know about all oil and natural resource contracts, and related environmental data and reports. What are the details of the giveaway of the Enmore Packaging Plant? What are the details of the Tax Certificates of Guyana paying the taxes for the oil companies? What are the details of state assets being sold to private interests and good friends of the Government? What was the deal on the sale of the Herdmanston Annexe on Lamaha Street? What are the details of all these high-priced contracts for roads, bridges, drains, public buildings, repairs to the Demerara Harbour Bridge, etc.? Why are all these projects costing so much? Much scrutiny is needed. Release all contracts and Bill of Quantities on a Public Website so anyone can get the details of their community’s projects and monitor for quality work.
Silence, secrecy, and withholding of public information are the oxygen that fuels political corruption. Guyana has remained a poor county despite vast resources more than any other CARICOM country, because much national wealth is siphoned off through secret, corrupt transactions. Our Governments like to keep us in the dark so we cannot unearth and expose incidents of corruption. Wake up Guyana! Fight for effective “sunshine laws” that would provide information to the Guyanese people who are the real owners of Guyana’s wealth. Governments are caretakers; they do not own anything! They must govern well. We are their bosses who can vote to hire or fire them!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall
