When the Americans came for Permanent Secretary Mae Thomas, Bharrat Jagdeo uttered not a word in her defence, since he considered the Permanent Secretary another dispensable token. Then the Americans sought after the Mohameds, Bharrat Jagdeo remained church mouse quiet, even though the PPP were drowning in the very deep pockets of the alleged gold smugglers.
Soon after, the Americans pursued Superintendent Mitchell Caesar, but Bharrat Jagdeo didn’t bat an eye, since he deemed the superintendent an imbecilic liability. Thereafter, Vickram Bharrat was escorted off a plane for questioning by the Americans, and like a hungered newborn, Bharrat Jagdeo was bawling, presumably because he also carries the name Bharrat.
But Bharrat Jagdeo’s mournful bawling, over Vickram Bharrat’s FBI interrogation, points to much more than coincidental similarity in name. In fact, Bharrat Jagdeo’s nervousness with Vickram Bharrat’s alleged arrest and interrogation, is likely related to his role as Vickram Bharrat’s Boss. For it was under Jagdeo’s watch, the Mohamed’s Enterprise was accused of stealing more than 10,000kg of gold, avoiding paying more than US$50M in duty taxes.
Moreover, it was also under Jagdeo’s watch, allegations surfaced on Vickram Bharrat’s involvement in a clandestine US$40M land purchase, with an ExxonMobil subcontractor. And when this is viewed in the context of the IHS Markit oil audit, where US$211M miraculously disappeared, again under Jagdeo’s watch, one can now appreciate the nervous tension precipitating a relapse of his acute diarrhoeal disease.
Having said that, it was only recently the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), intimated their concerns on the lack of transparency and accountability in our extractive sector, albeit repudiated by the installed government. In fact, the UNCHR inferred, the very institutional framework that investigates and prosecutes our grand corruption, is neither sufficiently strong nor effective, in undertaking same. And it’s this weak and ineffective corruption framework, that PPP exploits, even as the Americans come to our rescue, sanctioning the relevant corrupt installed Ministers, police and Permanent Secretaries.
However, even as we illuminate corruption in our extractive sector, concerning it has to be when the institution that has responsibility to investigate corruption, is itself corrupted. For this is what confronts us with Deputy Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus, who was forced to proceed on leave, following allegations of financial impropriety. And if this isn’t concerning enough, we revisit the FBI interrogation of Superintendent Mitchell Caesar. Moreover, compounding these concerns is Deputy Commissioner Ravindranath Budhram who was involved in a major shake-up of the top-brass, supposedly as a result of a massive SOCU investigation, which is itself corrupt.
Thus, the incontrovertible conclusion that confront us is, grand corruption has uncontrollably metastasised to all strata of the PPP legislature, high ranking police force and Judiciary. And the devastating consequences we endure are, the oligarchs growing wealthier, whilst we the impoverished many emaciate on less than US$5.50 a day, the marker of severe poverty. But even as we experience these harsh financial inequalities, those of grand corruption also benefit from legal impunity, through corrupting the justice system, stymieing enforcement in order to thwart being held to account.
As a result, this we can confidently predict, the Mohameds and Permanent Secretary Mae Thomas, facing allegations of gold smuggling and tax evasion, will never have to confront the corrupt justice system. Moreover, Mitchell Caesar and Calvin Brutus, both facing serious allegations, will never be visited by the PPP Judiciary. As a matter of fact, Bharrat Jagdeo, Vickram Bharrat et al, are all facing allegations of corruption to the tune of billions of dollars, nevertheless will never know of their unblinded Justice System. However, in this corrupt 83000 sq miles, the impoverished many are denied wealth and health, whilst being administered a good dose of the brutal PPP Justice System, in a land of naked corruption.
