Govts., Party members and corruption
DEAR EDITOR,
I refer to the article entitled, “Failure of Govts. punishing corrupt party members undermines governance – says Greenidge ”(KN January 5). Having confirmed that Mr Greenidge did indeed say so, my response is: well, sir!
The way I see this is that the way PPP and PNC governments act in addressing corrupt party members goes beyond failure; is that both sides embrace such members closely. They harbor known financial (and other) predators; they do more than condone such members who have gained long-standing notoriety for tearing the system, though not a minor lack of judgment, but big attacks that cost the public purse in the millions. They greet them quietly. I think there are several reasons for this, and I’m now going to share them.
First off, everyone duz does it, and nonbady dee giv up anybady from deh side. So why should we pick up one of our own? Much is rooted in our ‘one of our own’ mentality and position. The most likely one is an insider. That one did a lot of dirty work for the party over the years. That one, therefore, is a sacred cow that must be guarded by all means. And that’s what happened, where over time, the number of sacred cows multiplies, and the sacred calves are, of course, there to look around for their own little scraps of the deed, which they usually get them to plunder and enjoy.
Secondly, which is somewhat incorporated into the above, soon what started a little while ago fades into party culture as everyone tries the irresistible fruits of the job, and when the government (party) change, then the mentality, as I’ve expressed it not too infrequently, is that it is ‘wee tun fuh teef’ which now leads to the level of pervasive corruption that is reality and national culture .
Third, the mentality towards corruption in Guyana is best summed up by this pithy phrase: ‘ah maan, wha is a lil corruption’. This is why offering and accepting ‘gift’ or contract arrangements, etc., has become so entrenched in the national psyche. And when no offer is already available, then it increases to hard demand. It must be remembered that in the system at work, and demanded in this society, is that when a party is in power, it is almighty. And if that word is too fancy, then try these few for size, as made famous by one LFS Burnham: the party is of the utmost importance. Indeed, fellow! And who in this lovely country will tell me that today’s PPP functions (czars) do not match those long-standing potentates of the bright East?
Editor, in effect, this translates to men with unlimited presence and reach, which leads to swagger, a small base of sycophants rushing to polish shoes etc, and who are law themselves. These are the people in those nomadic and scandalous ‘kitchen cabinets’ where they all have great fun over who killed, who sleeps with whom, and who pulled the latest fast on the next big one. Hey, it’s a wonderful life, and who’s going to touch them? Who is going to make an example of them, whether the serial scoundrel is at the top, middle, or lower down? Remember that one for fish rots from the head? Well, that’s it, because the leader himself doesn’t have to have a reputation for fraudulent fraud (although they usually do), but when they turn a blind eye and do nothing (as they always do ), then I submit that the head is rotten, and as good as if their hands were holding the smoking gun.
Finally, after the battle of brutal elections, the winning PPP members in sensitive positions managing tons of money (which seems to be almost everywhere), it’s party time, time to reap the rewards, time to reward yourself. And with oil here, that only adds to the rush of projects and the grand opportunities to make a high pile of dough. Now, how much honest does anyone see among them? Go anywhere, in any direction, and the answer is. Time to get into the business of reorganizing governance to achieve objectives. Anyone wants to know who….
Correctly,
Lall GHK