https://wikileaks.org/plusd/ca...78GEORGE02538_d.html

1. SIXTEEN INDIVIDUALS WERE CHARGED ON AUGUST 4 WITH CONSPIRACY TO FRADULENTLY OBTAIN OVER US$2.5 MILLION IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE DURING 1975 AND 1976. BAIL WAS SET AT APPROXIMATELY US$40,000, A VERY LARGE SUM BY GUYANESE STANDARDS. THOSE CHARGED INCLUDE FORMER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE WILLIAM HAYNES, PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE GUYANA STATE CORPORATION (GUYSTAC) FRANK NOEL, A PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY OF TRADE, A POLICE DETECTIVE, SEVERAL PRIVATE BUSINESSMEN, AND THE BERBICE MANAGER OF THE GUYANA NATIONAL CO-OP BANK. THE DEFENDANTS WERE ORDERED TO RETURN TO COURT ON AUGUST 19.

2. THREE INDIVIDUALS (TWO EMPLOYEES OF THE MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR) WERE CHARGED ON THE SAME DAY WITH CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA OF APPROXIMATELY US$16,000 IN 1976. THEY WERE PLACED ON BAIL OF APPROXIMATELY US$6,000 AND ORDERED TO APPEAR IN COURT ON SEPTEMBER 5.

3. ACCORDING TO THE "GUYANA CHRONICLE", A SPECIAL COURT IS BEING ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE A SPEEDY TRIAL FOR THE ACCUSED. ALL OF THOSE CHARGED HAVE BEEN APPREHENDED,WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HAYNES, WHO IT IS BELIEVED IS OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

4. COMMENT: THE VARIED EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND OF THOSE CHARGED IS EVIDENCE OF THE EXTENT OF MISDEEDS IN GUYANA STEMMING FROM GOVERNMENTAL CONTROLS ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND IMPORT CONTROLS (REFTEL). RELIABLE SOURCES HAVE INFORMED THE EMBASSY THAT INDICTMENTS ON OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN PENDING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, LENDING CREDENCE TO BURNHAM'S HINT DURING HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON AUGUST 5 THAT MORE ARRESTS CAN BE EXPECTED. IN THIS LIGHT, THE SHAKE-UP OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL, INCLUDING THE RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTER OF TRADE (SEPTEL) IS PROBABLY NOT MERELY COINCIDENTAL. OF FURTHER INTEREST IS THE TIMING OF THE PROSECUTIONS. BURNHAM ELECTED TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM TO TAKE ACTION, BUT HE DID NOT WAIT FOR THE RULING PNC PARTY EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE, SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 10-12. DWYER

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/ca...78GEORGE02687_d.html

1. SEVEN MORE PERSONS WERE INDICTED DURING THE PAST WEEK IN THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA (GOG) ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE (REFTEL). FOUR INDIVIDUALS, A MAJOR AND WARRANT OFFICER OF THE GUYANA DEFENSE FORCE, AND TWO EMPLOYEES OF A SAWMILLING FIRM, WERE CHARGED WITH BILKING THE GOG OF US$6,400 BY ARRANGING FRAUDULENT GOVERNMENT PURCHASE ORDERS FOR LUMBER. TWO GOVERNMENT CIVIL SERVANTS, ONE OF WHOM WAS ACTING PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, HOUSING & LABOUR AT THE TIME OF HIS ARREST, AND A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR WERE CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING THE GOG OF OVER US$44,000 IN A PHONY CONTRACT SCHEME.

2. COMMENT: IN A SPEECH BEFORE THE RULING PEOPLE'S NATIONAL CONGRESS GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING ON AUGUST 13 PRIME MINISTER BURNHAM REITERATED HIS PLEDGE TO ROOT OUT GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION AT ALL LEVELS. INFORMED OBSERVERS STATE THAT AT LEAST FIFTY MORE INDICTMENTS CAN BE EXPECTED. THE RECENT ARRESTS INDICATE THAT FUTURE PROSECUTIONS MAY ALSO BE DIRECTED AT WIDESPREAD IRREGULAR PRACTICES IN THE GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES FROM PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND FIRMS. DWYER