Dear Editor,
Over the last year since the APNU/AFC assumed power in our country, the regime took some actions that have caused widespread and deep concern in the population generally.
It is not difficult to ascertain the nature of this Government. Many persons have already noted that they have picked up where the PNC left off in 1992. Indeed, President Granger is a product of that period and seems determined to pursue some aspects of Burnham’s policies and positions.
This attribute of the administration is not surprising, since the party really in power in Guyana is the People’s National Congress (PNC), the main force within the APNU/AFC.
Like the PNC when it was in power, this Government is really a bureaucratic, capitalist group. Their whole drive for power was not motivated by what they could do to help our country to move forward, but how they can promote their own economic wellbeing and be in the upper echelons of society. One of the first acts of this regime was to give their Cabinet members substantial pay increases in not only their salaries, but their allowances as well.
The number of advisors has also greatly increased. These persons are part of the elite and must be handsomely remunerated. It is doubtful if most of them are called upon to advise the President and his Cabinet members. This is just another strategy to create ‘jobs for the boys/girls.’
The new CEOs that have taken over Government departments and public corporations have been given salaries and allowances more than double their predecessors who served in the former PPP/C Administration.
The Opposition PPP/C has publicly stated, including at Parliamentary sessions, that even in the Parliament they are not receiving all the information they ask for. To date, neither the Opposition nor the public have any idea of how much money was collected from the private sector for the D’Urban Park project, for instance.
The recent revelation about the bond being rented for $12.5 million per month to store drugs for the Government is another episode in the ongoing saga about the shady nature of the government and how it operates.
It is apposite to note a special team comprising cabinet members was set up to investigate this scandal.
The question already being asked is: why was the auditor general not asked to conduct the investigation?
We are also seeing the many cases that the regime, through the attorney general, has been settling. This is very disturbing since these transactions are costing the taxpayers of this country billions of dollars.
Again, one is left to ponder the motivations behind these tax settlements.
Such a regime does not like opposition. They would look for ways to stifle and drown criticisms. We have already noted how miserly they are with providing information in the Parliament.
However, they are also looking at other mechanisms to shut down dissent. The creation of SARA and the powers which the Government has granted this unit, together with the possibility of a special police prosecutor and special court is designed to kill criticism in the name of ‘assets recovery.’
If they were really interested in asset recovery and transparency, they would have accepted the motion by the PPP/C made in Parliament for public disclosure of all assets held by all members of the National Assembly.
But no, they have moved ahead to establish an elaborate mechanism that will cost millions, with the aim of witch-hunting opposition now and in the future.
It is just over a year since the regime took the reins of power and we already see in clear-cut lines, the fingerprints of the old PNC.
The regime has already become corrupt and will become increasingly so with time.
The only way to stop this is for all Guyanese to make their voices heard. We must all speak loudly enough for not only those in authority to hear, but in the corridors of the international community as well.
If not, the regime will become more oppressive and dictatorial as time passes.
Sincerely,
Donald Ramotar,
Former President
