Granger’s claims will drive fear, hurt the economy – Teixeira

President David Granger is under fire once again for his assertions of corruption being rampant in the private sector.
People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Chief Whip Gail Teixeira lambasted the Head of State for making such reckless statements, which can damage the economy and the country’s image globally.

“In what way is it helpful to our country, to the business community, to the economy, to castigate, to throw an accusation on an entire sector? No doubt there are private companies found for all sorts of wrongdoings. I have no problem with the President saying this one has been charged and that one has been charged, but to take everyone and lump them together, it is unhelpful, and it is damaging to our country,” she asserted during a news conference on Monday at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown.
Teixeira continued, “When one of your headlines comes up and says private sector in Guyana is corrupt, what message are you sending internationally and globally? There is no rhyme and rhythm to the thought process behind these comments.”
President Granger, during his weekly broadcast “The Public Interest”, again alluded to the fact that corruption exists but not only in Government.

“As far as white collar crimes are concerned, you have to realise that not only government officials wear white collar… backtracking is an illegality and I’ve read statements from members of certain Chambers of Commerce who called for the backtrack to be kept open because its quick… when you look at white collar crimes… these are businessmen,” he stated.
Granger had previously declared that corruption is more prevalent outside of government.
“It is my view that corruption in Guyana is most widespread outside of Government,” the President had declared while addressing the launch of former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran’s book “Governance, Transparency and Accountability.”
He had cautioned Guyanese against believing that corruption was confined to law enforcement agents and public servants, defining that while persons must remain vigilant against the abuse of power by Government, they must also look at “the abuse of trust by the Private Sector.”
Some private sector bodies had responded in uproar to the President’s claim, noting that it could put the Government/private sector relationship in jeopardy.
Bartica Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Anthony Murray had posited that while corruption exists in some private enterprises, it was inappropriate for the President to generalise the matter, presumably in an effort to shield his Government.
According to Murray, statements of that nature can damage Private Sector relationships with Government: “It seems like he wants to cast the blame on us and it will drive a wedge between the Private Sector and the Government.”
Likewise, President of the Berbice Chambers of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Rajnauth Ramroop argued that corruption in the private sector is contingent on corruption in the public sector. (Devina Samaroo)