Govt. moves to establish anti-corruption court – PM
Government is to set up a special court to preside solely over corruption cases. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo made this disclosure at the recent book launch of former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, which was held at the Pegasus Hotel. Since government assumed office, it has established a State Asset Recovery Programme headed by Presidential Advisor on Sustainable Development, Dr. Clive Thomas. This is in addition to forensic audits it has launched into some 30 state agencies, national projects and funds.
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo
The First Vice President made it clear that the findings of the forensic audits will be used to build cases that can be won beyond the shadow of a doubt in the courts. But given the complaints of backlog of cases in the judicial system, the Granger administration will be making moves to have a special court that will preside over corruption cases. The Prime Minister said that the anti-corruption court will have to be established when all the anti-corruption laws are in place. He noted that government has already made steps towards this end, in addition to its efforts to strengthen already existing anti-graft laws. His disclosure was given full support by Minster of Public Security , Khemraj Ramjattan, who reiterated that the number of cases government expects to have in the future on defaulters of the law, would perhaps necessitate an entire court. Ramjattan said that one cannot argue that such a court would not only support government’s commitment to enforcing the anti-corruption laws, but would also serve as a reminder that no one will escape punishment once they are found to have committed the crime. He said that those involved in cases of corruption can rest assured that they will not be denied their day in court, or would the course of justice be delayed. Strong support for this move was also given by former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran, who is a member of Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI). Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, had commented in 2011 that the ugly symptoms of corruption have become so deeply entrenched in society that it has become a norm of everyday life. Referring to the previous administration he said, “It has been established thousands of years ago, that where the leaders are corrupt, then the people behave likewise and eventually, as we are witnessing, the entire nation hovers on the brink of collapse from decay and rot.” “The PPP’s acolytes keep calling for the proof of corruption, yet every day, and in every way, and everywhere, the corruption is oozing like a cancerous sore. (We) have no need to find proof as the people have good and long memories as we move along memory lane from the stone scam to the law books, roads, schools, laptops, housing, Amaila Falls, Ed Ahmad and the never ending list of the suffocating corruption we are being forced to live in.” (Kiana Wilburg)
