President Irfaan’s Empty New Year’s Day Message 

Dear Editor,

The President gave a lofty speech on New Year’s Morning committing to government of openness, accountability, and integrity. It was a feel good speech to fool the public. He speaks nice words of integrity and protection of national interests and of prosperity for all. Those are empty words. 

The president had multiple opportunities to take decisive action against corruption — against cabinet colleagues and other government officials who have unexplained wealth in the tens of millions in American dollars and who have been implicated in massive corruption. Ministers and other officials came into government as paupers and have become multi millionaires. 

The President’s actions are the opposite of his words — allowing colleagues to raid the treasury through a scheme of kickbacks from contracts. His ministers and other officials own multiple businesses awarding themselves contracts. Favored contractors are paid even when no work is done. Does the President himself own businesses? 

He speaks of a corruption czar. Four months later, no appointee. He and the Vice President have been silent on exposure of corruption. The President himself has been silent on the corruption exposed in the Su documentary.

What we have in Guyana as governance is a display of greed of a kleptocratic elite callously indifferent to the plight of the people they govern. Critics are bought out with contracts and small pittances not to expose corruption. The President and VP have been governing giving handouts to silence critics and to woo opponents; people known for integrity and honesty have been silent on corruption.

If the President were serious about integrity, he would have disciplined those Ministers and other officials who the public speaks about of using their office to generate self wealth.  The President and his VP have been silent on the Zulfi Mustapha and Susan Rodrigues housing scandal. Neither one has taken Azruddin Mohamed to court for libel. The President has been silent about the US$150 M hospital scandal involving a discredited Austrian company barred by the European Union and the World Bank from construction work. Are the local contractors tied to a Bangladeshi national and a relative of the President based in Toronto?

If the President is serious about tackling corruption and governing with integrity, he would establish a commission comprising individuals of uncompromising integrity, decency, and honesty to investigate all these allegations and all contracts. When will he table legislation on an anti corruption czar? And who will be appointed?

Yours truly,
Nigel Pilgrim