Corruption and Government propagandists

Dear Editor,
Sympathisers of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) regime in the media have changed their tactics in relation to their publications on corruption in the country. They are now forced to admit that serious and big corrupt practices are taking place. However, they are saying that it was worse under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration (in a lame attempt to pour a little salt over the wound).
David Hinds is reported to have been deeply “disappointed in the Government’s handling of the controversial Sussex Street bond deal.” However, he went on to add that this is a… “stark reminder of Guyana’s darkest days under the former regime.”
These statements are being made without any evidence being provided. This has been the pattern – repeating accusations of corruption under the PPP/C Administration in a bid to make the populace believe them. While strong on words, these statements are weak in facts.
The regime carried out many forensic audits and has thus far come up with no serious evidence of corruption. These audits were conducted by persons who are highly critical of the PPP/C and who are supporters of the regime. In no way can they be described as being objective, and the fact that they did not manage to produce any evidence of corrupt practices is testimony of the PPP/C’s clean record.
It is the PPP/C that challenged the regime to an open public debate on corruption, while they (the current Government) were in opposition and they came up empty-handed. Indeed, after the first encounter, the APNU failed to show up for the other sessions.
The PPP/C urged this regime to invite international forensic auditors to examine the records of the PPP/C Administration for corruption. They declined to do so, preferring to continue with the slanderous statements.
The PPP/C moved a motion in Parliament calling on all members of the House to make public their assets, both local and foreign. False declarations would carry a penalty of compulsory jail term.
The APNU/AFC members of the National Assembly voted against this motion. PPP/C leaders, while in Government, declared their assets to the Integrity Commission. The APNU and the AFC never did so.
This clearly indicates that PPP/C leaders are prepared to be scrutinised (publicly), but the APNU and AFC seem deathly afraid of doing do. Why? The PPP/C Government returned accountability to our country by conducting audits of Government finances/books every year. This was done without fail.
This was done after a lapse by the People’s National Congress regime of more than 10 years. All the accusations made against the PPP/C have been clarified and future accusations will continue to be clarified, yet the regime’s sympathisers continue to speak of ‘corruption’ under the PPP/C. They refuse to face facts, resorting instead to throw mud at the excellent reputation of the PPP/C Administration.
It is time for the democratic forces in this country to demand integrity from all commentators. It is time that editors of media houses demand evidence before making false published reports. After all, corruption is concrete, so let’s stop dealing with it in an abstract manner.
The fact is that the PPP/C Administration was the most transparent and accountable administration in the post-independence history of Guyana.

Sincerely,
Donald Ramotar