Put an end to white collar criminality in

Government

Dear Editor,
With the passage of the 2014 Budget being a little more than two weeks ago, it is worthwhile to take stock of a number of issues.
The cutting of the budget represents a significant victory for Guyana and the Opposition, the APNU and the AFC.  The Opposition has shown that they can indeed find common ground, that is, the repudiation of the injustice and abuse of power by the PPP, and the systematic gouging and waste of our financial resources.
Guyanese looking back in history with perfect hindsight will recognize the Honorable Mr. David Granger, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and Mr. Moses Nagamootoo as heroes in reshaping Guyana’s economic and political landscape.  The stiff-necked and unyielding integrity of both Mr. Ramjattan and Mr. Nagamootoo combined with the APNU to ensure that this generation will not be left to drag on a little more through the pages of history.  I wish to recognize the contributions of the latter two gentlemen, in particular, and Mr. Granger, in staving off another massive waste of our financial resources this year, and, political differences aside, I hope my fellow Guyanese also take the time to reflect on this historic achievement. Surely, without the entrenched efforts of these two gentlemen, Guyana would have been set back another couple of years.  The political differences between the APNU and the AFC have become a bit blurred to me.
I have in my earlier letters pointed out the waste of billions of dollars over the years by the PPP on shoddy and over-priced government contracts. Many of us are still trying to figure out is exactly by what means hundreds of millions of dollars were released for the Amaila Falls hydroelectric project, in the absence of a feasibility study.  Now is the time, if any, for the Opposition to put an end to this kind of high-handed nonsense by ensuring that no more money is released from Central Government until appropriate financial safeguards and adhered to. We also need to examine steps to recover those monies.  There must be some international standard practice for handling this.  We can no longer afford to sit or stand idly by and watch Government squandering our hard earned money.  Whoever authorized and facilitated the release of monies spent to date on the Amaila Falls Project should be made accountable for this enormous financial waste.  Parliament needs to put an end to white collar criminality in government.
On the issue of cheap electricity, what of the proposals of Mr. Donald Baldeosingh of ENMAN Services, Trinidad, where he proposed the laying of cables from Trinidad to supply Guyana with power?  Is he unwilling to pay a bribe (because if he is, he is very probably the man we are looking for)?    The rate he is offering to Guyanese is far cheaper than GPL’s.  If not him, then the issue of cheap electricity is still on the table.
I wish to support the call for greater monitoring and supervision of expenditures related to Amerindians, with every effort being be made to ensure that the release of money for the development and general welfare of these people are not in any way tied to political shenanigans of the PPP.
Mr. Nagamootoo recently commented on the need to revisit among other things the distribution of broadcast licenses to the PPP’s cronies.  To the extent that the distribution of these assets was made in a manner not in keeping with internationally accepted competitive practices, then the licenses issued to the PPP’s cronies granted by its Mafioso style directives need to be revoked, and all interested applicants be asked to reapply under appropriately revised guidelines.
The Guyana National Broadcast Authority is an industry regulator, not a political organ, and must be staffed with the persons with the required expertise for implementing policy in this area. It needs to be reconstituted to rid itself of the indiscretion of the PPP’s acolytes.  Given that the industry is fledgling, then every attempt should be made to limit costs/taxes so that potential suppliers can enter with greater opportunity for success in the market.  It goes without saying that Guyana will enjoy greater benefits the larger and more diverse the suppliers of radio/television services.
Craig Sylvester.