Open Letter to President Ali From MP Solomon

Dear Editor, 

Once again I am forced to write on behalf of the people of Guyana, not out of impatience but concern.

More allegations of corruption now hang over senior Ministers and key state agencies, including the Guyana Revenue Authority. Not minor claims, as  they strike at the very institutions responsible for trust and accountability, revenue, and governance.

Five months ago, in your opening address of the new term, you pledged to establish an Anti-Corruption Unit that would confront wrongdoing “wherever it exists.” It was a bold commitment, welcomed by a skeptical public seeing so much scandals and selective accountability.

Today, that promise, like so many others stands exposed to its first real test. Yet your promised Unit remains unseen.

No law has been tabled. No mandate defined. No independent leadership announced. No public reporting mechanism is outlined. In a country with a long memory of anti-corruption promises by your perty, that dissolve once the “stink” gets near to power.

This matters because corruption is not only in your fancy speeches. This has cost the country billions in lost revenue. The Gas-to-Energy project (US$300 million wasted), the recent GRA car and tax scandals as well as the Auditor General reports of unaccounted millions are noted examples in this case.

When allegations reach senior levels and the response is silenced or delayed, suspicion grows.

The straight up question now is, will the Anti-Corruption Unit act, with independence and authority, or does it exist only in speeches?

Enough optics and fancy speeches. Put your Unit to work.

Yours in service,
Sharma Solomon
Member of Parliament. 

Dear Editor,