Some Ministries run corruption free operations while others are deeply embedded in corruption. Ministries under the stewardship of Dr. Vindya Persaud (Social Security) and Anil Nandlall (Attorney General and Legal Affairs), among others, display intolerance for corruption. Dr. Vindya is known to move hard against staff engaged in or attempted acts of dishonesty. It is said she prevails over her bosses that they (the corrupt) must go or else she would go; she is praised everywhere for her resilient and uncompromising stance on corruption and as a role model of good governance. That is the kind of incorruptible, honest leadership and determination a leader must exemplify to clean up on corruption. Mr. Nandlall is also praised everywhere in Guyana and the diaspora for his legal brilliance and running a corrupt free ministry although many people feel he should go after the corrupt as then Attorney General Ramesh Maharaj did in Trinidad during the Panday’s administration. As AG, that is his job – evaporate corruption! That Dr. Vindya and Mr. Nandlall, and a few others, can run corrupt-free, clean ministries, the public asks why can’t other Ministers or other government functionaries?
In commenting on corruption, which is spreading like an uncontrollable cancer that is eating away at the fabric of the nation, there were many commendations, pats, and praises with remarks like, “long overdue”, “silent too long”, “timely”, and there were also several warnings: “Dem boys don’t like it and will come after you”; “Safety not assured”; “Just be careful”, among others. To their credit, no politician (government or opposition) called or wrote a response (negative or critical) although confidential sources reveal that they didn’t take too kindly to the recent articles attacking corruption of this government and the preceding coalition; a few politicians offered praises — “well done”, “thanks for your intervention”!
Almost every government globally is saddled with corruption. There are few, if indeed any, truly corrupt free government, not even Singapore or the Nordic states (that display ideal form of governance). Some governments seriously address corruption and have been able to curtail it. The corrupt at times were charged or indicted and prosecuted, serving as a limited deterrent; China is known to execute corrupt officials. It is not known if any corruption accused was successfully brought to trial in Guyana. At any rate, to deny that there isn’t corruption is to bury heads in the sand. The VP admitted in multiple press conferences that the government has been cracking down on corruption. He issued multiple warnings against the corrupt. He stated that is the President’s role to address corruption. And as he admitted, evidence to convict the corrupt is hard to obtain and people are not willing to testify against accused; it is so in most countries.
Many people in Guyana and the diaspora feel Dr Vindya and other corrupt-free Ministers and government functionaries should go on an anti-corruption crusade like Attorney General Ramesh Maharaj did in Trinidad (1996-2001). But they are fore-warned that Maharaj was fired from his job for speaking out against corruption and his boss Prime Minister Panday lost his job in the resulting action never to return to that exalted position. Maharaj also never returned as AG although he has become a champion of good governance and democracy and a thorn on bad government. He is among ‘the most revered’ and perhaps the most feared lawyer in the country; lawyers preferred not to go up against him and judges prefer not to have him appear in their court room for he rattled them and rarely lost a case on appeal at the Privy Council.
Corruption is known to bring down government. It happened in Trinidad multiple times and in other Caribbean states. It also played a role in the downfall of both the PNC (APNU) and PPP. It is the Achilles Heel of the present government in the coming election as it was in 2011 and 2015. To be forewarned is to be fore-armed! Act against corruption; make examples of the corrupt!
Yours Truly,
Vishnu Bisram