Dear Editor,
President Irfaan Ali’s latest public comments regarding the assets of Minister Susan Rodrigues raise serious concerns, not only about transparency and accountability, but about the troubling double standards that have come to characterise governance in Guyana.
What is most striking is that while the President found time to defend or dismiss questions surrounding ministerial assets, he again failed to acknowledge the gravity of the multiple and persistent allegations of corruption hanging over his government. This is not an isolated issue. Rather, it reflects a pattern in which allegations against senior officials are trivialised, deflected, or ignored altogether.
This posture is an insult to the people of Guyana. The clear message being sent is that when allegations of corruption involving government ministers are exposed, there is no intention to initiate independent or credible investigations. Instead, it is business as usual. Yet, when ordinary citizens are accused or suspected of wrongdoing, they are subjected to the full blunt of the law.
A current example lies in the investigation of Customs Officers who, by all indications, were carrying out their lawful duties. While state resources are swiftly mobilised to scrutinise lower-ranking public servants and citizens, the same urgency is conspicuously absent when serious questions arise about the conduct and wealth of those in political office.
It is difficult to have confidence in the President’s commitment to impartial investigations when he himself previously faced 19 counts of fraud. Equally troubling are longstanding public allegations involving Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, including claims that major deals were conducted from his private residence. These are not matters of idle speculation; they are issues that have been openly discussed in the public domain.
Indeed, it was President Ali who assured the nation that investigations would be conducted into allegations of corruption within his administration. Three years later, the Guyanese people are still waiting. No findings. No reports. No accountability.
Lest we forget, Mr. Jagdeo himself publicly stated that he intended to pursue legal action against Chinese businessman Mr. Su. To date, the nation continues to await any evidence of court filings or legal proceedings arising from that declaration.
The cumulative effect of these developments is deeply disturbing. It creates a society in which politicians appear free to act with impunity, while citizens are left with a stark choice:l; put up or shut up.
Is this the Guyana we are building? Is this the standard of governance we are prepared to bequeath to future generations?
Yours truly,
Annette Ferguson
