Accountability Watch

A clean confession combined with a promise never to commit the sin again, when offered before one who has the right to receive it, is the purest type of repentance.

Last week, the Minister of Home Affairs stated that: the ‘biggest immediate ongoing problem’ of the Guyana Police Force is allegations of corruption in procurement; and he has an obligation to make sure that ‘there is an accounting for the people’s sweat, wealth and labour which comes to us for the operations and administration of the Guyana Police Force’.

Last Monday, the annual report of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) for the period ending July 2023 was tabled in the National Assembly.

Last Wednesday, Hurricane Beryl, downgraded from a Category 5 storm to Category 4, was heading for Jamaica after its devastating effects on a number of other islands, including Grenada.

Following the United States Government’s imposition of sanctions for corrupt behaviour against three prominent individuals and entities associated with two of them, we note the Authorities’ recent actions.

Last week, we began to highlight Justice Sandil Kissoon’s ruling on the industrial action taken by the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) following the breakdown of talks between the Union and the Government over increases in the salaries of teachers.

Last week, on the occasion of World Environment Day, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that countries must confront not just the fossil-fuel industry, but also companies that support efforts to obstruct climate action.

In this our third and final article on the subject, we revisit the key findings and recommendations of the 2015 Commission of Inquiry into the Guyana Public Service.

In last week’s article, we began a discussion about the need to have in place a politically neutral and professional Public Service that serves the interest of the country.

Two recent editorials in the Stabroek News under the following captions caught our attention: “Binary worldview” and “Permanent secretaries” published on 12 May 2024 and 13 May 2024, respectively.

Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the souls of the citizens.

Last Thursday, the Stabroek News carried an article under the caption “Trinidad AG to Auditor General: I won’t be intimidated by threats”, caught our attention.

In last week’s article, we began a discussion of the Public Procurement Commission’s (PPC) summary report on the award of the contract to Tepui Group in the sum of $865.5 million for the construction of a sluice and pump station at Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara.

In our article of 9 October 2023, we discussed the award of the contract for the construction of a sluice pump station at Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara, to Tepui Group Inc.

 In our last three columns, we discussed the contents of the audit report on Exxon’s post contract costs for 2018-2020.

Before proceeding with today’s article, we would like to offer some brief comments on a letter published in last Saturday’s issue of the Stabroek News.

In last week’s article, we began a discussion of the audit report on Exxon’s post-contract costs covering the period 2018-2020.

Before proceeding with today’s article, we refer the response by Guyana’s Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance to a question posed by the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Last year, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) suspended Guyana from its membership because of the delay in compiling and publishing its 2020 annual report.

In our article of 5 February 2024, we began a discussion on  the various anti-corruption measures implemented by the Guyanese authorities over the years and what may have been reasons for Guyana continuing to score poorly on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.