Dear Editor,
Corruption must no longer be treated as a political talking point that surfaces only when one party wants to attack another. It is a national threat that undermines public trust, drains resources and weakens the institutions upon which democracy depends.
Guyana is experiencing unprecedented oil wealth, making transparency and accountability more important—not less. Every dollar of public money must be subject to scrutiny, particularly in procurement, public contracts, natural-resource management and the use of state assets.
Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index gave Guyana a score of 40 out of 100. The organisation also warned that harassment and intimidation of independent media and civil society can weaken oversight and accountability.
The responsibility for protecting the public interest cannot rest with government institutions alone. The parliamentary opposition must become more vigilant, demand documentation, scrutinise contracts and insist that allegations of wrongdoing are properly investigated rather than dismissed as political attacks.
Civil society must also step forward. Lawyers, professional associations, trade unions, journalists, academics, religious organisations and ordinary citizens must demand access to information and insist on explanations when public resources are involved.
But vigilance must be principled. Allegations are not convictions, and political affiliation must never determine whether evidence is investigated. Every claim should be tested against documents, contracts, financial records and independent evidence.
Guyana’s oil wealth belongs to the people. Government is its steward, not its owner.
The time has come for Guyanese to stop accepting secrecy as normal. Watch the money. Question the contracts. Demand the documents. Follow the evidence. And hold whoever exercises public power accountable.
Yours truly,
Shaundell Gibson
