“Governance by domination and vindictiveness…”

Electorate must require replacement of corrupt “dictatorial” govt. officials – Greenidge

Shadow Finance Minister of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Carl Greenidge is of the firm belief that Guyana is plagued by a “poisonous political atmosphere” as a result of “governance by domination and vindictiveness.”

Carl Greenidge, APNU’s Shadow Minister of Finance

It is a position that is also strongly supported by the Vice Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Moses Nagamootoo. He had stressed that politics should always seek to inspire rather than what it is being used to do by the current administration–suppress.
Nagamootoo had said that politics is supposed to be transformational and incorporates qualities such as equality, integrity and the goals and directions of the political leaders.
He had reiterated that if the basis or the qualities which are supposed to fuel the purpose of politics is replaced with selfish motives, corruption and a winner-take-all attitude, the scope of the political atmosphere will certainly change for the worse.
The AFC Parliamentarian believes that what is taking place is that government has brought the political competition to such a level that ever so often the citizens are subjected to endure “politics of vengeance.”
Greenidge, sharing his perspective on the matter asserted that the Government feels that by winning more seats in an election, it is entitled to do as it likes and that it is entitled to everything. “And so anyone or any institution that dares to criticize them and their behavior is evil,” he added.
The APNU politician explained that being elected to public office does not entitle members of the Government to state assets and or to use state institutions to “take other people’s property in order to fill their own pockets and those of their friends.”
He said that in Guyana’s Constitution and those countries that claim to be democracies, there are laws against corruption and abuse of power in office. Greenidge said too that there are also standards of behaviour and rules governing how ministers and public officials should behave.
He highlighted that there are protocols and conventions on ethical behavior and conduct governing how ministers deal with criticism and issues such as conflict of interest.
The former finance minister cited the United Kingdom (UK) which has a Code of Conduct for ministers as well as for special advisors. He said that the Income Tax Authority and its officers in the UK are also covered by a Code.
He said that there are also various commissions to help enforce these. However, in Guyana’s case, Greenidge said that under the PPP, none of this applies. He said that the courts and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions have been so undermined that it is practically impossible to secure prosecution of “what is clearly criminal behavior on the part of Ministers and agents of the state.”
“The state of lawlessness that exists in Guyana exists most grievously at the very top of the Government. The PPP uses state agencies including the tax authority to intimidate private TV and radio stations not owned by the PPP or PPP supporters to force them to stop airing programmes not favourable to the PPP.
“It also makes several attempts to damage newspapers’ profitability and that is now an everyday occurrence. It is now part of everyday lawlessness just as is personal harassment of editors and owners for critical comments. We are paying the price for allowing the Government to fill these key offices with weak and politically biased officials,” Greenidge lamented.
The APNU politician stressed that the electorate has to require the replacement of corrupt “dictatorial” officials and the government at large. He said too that it is also useful to bear in mind that the PPP Government is fond of burnishing its image abroad by sending ministers and parliamentarians to international meetings to tell the story of the revolution in government and morals since 1992 in Guyana.
Greenidge believes that it is time that international bodies are apprised of “the disgusting governmental politics” that is actually taking place in Guyana.