The recent interview by Vice News, a controversial foreign news media that has some credibility issues, asking our VP if he took bribes and forcing the VP to say, “I never took a bribe” is reminiscent of the US President Nixon saying “I am not a crook,” when he was questioned about his involvement in the famous Watergate scandal. I believe the VP as he is hugely popular and well-liked among his supporters.
The underdevelopment of Third World countries, despite an abundance of natural resources, is largely due to their governments’ practicing kleptocractic governance which impoverishes their nations, and rendering the working poor to a lifetime of persistent poverty, permanent destitution, and never ending misery. Africa remains poor although it is the richest continent in resources. Similarly, in Guy-ana, the richest country in CARICOM, throughout our history, we have had one kleptocracy replacing another. There are no clean hands in political parties and none can take the high road against each other. The people say “all politicians are crooks.” That’s the sad state of politics in Guyana. Lord, when will our nation have peace and national unity? When will our people get a chance to live decent lives, in this rich land that you gave us?
We know our leaders are selling us out but the common people do not have forensic capabilities to unearth corruption. Even the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA), whose job it is to unearth fraud, is unable to reveal and convict the corruptocrats. (SARA was recently dismantled). The Integrity Commission is a joke. Although the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reports’ catalogue a host of corrupt transactions and lack of accountability, nobody is going to jail. It’s the same script every year at PAC. No party wants to block loopholes that facilitate the fleecing of Guyana. If you want to end Guyana’s long national nightmares spanning over 60 years, please join any movement calling for renegotiation of all natural resources contracts. People, it’s “Our Wealth, Our Country.” Your lives will never improve unless we get more money from our oil and natural resources contracts. The rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer.
The masses of people in Guyana believe there was corruption when the PNC signed away our oil patrimony to the oil companies. They also believe there is corruption in the new government not wanting to renegotiate the oil contract and other natural resources contracts as KN and SN have been advocating. Where there is wrongdoing, the man in the street likes to say, “Money pass deh.” The challenge is to prove that. Local media needs to do a better job. Any corruption, anywhere destroys our national fabric. People, let’s stand against all corruption!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall