“While [Bharrat] Jagdeo remains in self-denial and self-delusion over the high and rising cost of living, his recent rantings against corruption in public procurement are, however, acts of pure political deception. The Vice President is straining himself to give the impression to the Guyanese people that he is now aware of the rampant corruption in the awards of contracts. He wants the public to believe that he is now aware that most contracts go to the friends, families, and favorites of PPP party executives and PPP government officials.” So said the parliamentary Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) in a statement issued yesterday.
The Opposition was making specific reference to Jagdeo outreach in Corentyne on Tuesday where he said most contracts are going to a small set of families and friends. This is an issue the Opposition said it been highlighting to the nation for over three years now, exposing this fact at many of our press conferences, budget presentations, media interviews, and public meetings. Jagdeo cannot claim he hasn’t heard because, as is known, he listens to all of them or has his staff transcribe them for his bedtime reading, the Opposition mocked.
“So, for him to admit at his Corentyne outreach on Tuesday that most contracts are going to a small set of families and friends is a total political sham to attempt to fool the public that he is now up to speed on this matter. But the Guyanese people are not fools. Everybody knows that the only families, friends, and public officials who are involved in these widespread acts of corruption are PPP-connected, PPP-appointed, or PPP by membership.”
The Opposition wants Guyanese to understand the scale of the corruption crisis in public procurement.
According to the APNU+AFC since the PPP took office in August 2020 hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth in fraudulent acts and transactions occurred. Going further the Opposition said it is a small group of people channeling hundreds of billions of dollars into their own pockets and, more than likely, into funding the PPP party machinery.
“Furthermore, Jagdeo and the PPP are in the habit of calling on the Opposition and others to provide evidence of discrimination, corruption and other government bad acts. Well, he himself claims to have growing evidence of corruption in contract awards. Beyond the empty rhetoric about cracking down on perpetrators and his fake moral outrage, no one expects him or the PPP to take any serious action. Corruption in the award of contracts is a PPP political and business operation. Expect more empty rhetoric from Jagdeo on this and other issues as elections draw closer.”
The Opposition is therefore calling on Guyanese to recognise that the only way to reverse the sleazy state of affairs is through a change of government.
The APNU+AFC warned that “right now, 50% or more of every $100 is lost through PPP corruption and financial mismanagement.” Promising to reverse the situation the Opposition said In its first year in office it will significantly reduce the lost and put money in the hands, purses, pockets and bank accounts of the people of Guyana.
