Dear Editor,

In a recent debate in Parliament we again heard the usual accusations of official corruption. Mrs Deborah Backer, for example, mentioned the damning Report on Guyana by Transparency International. The Government side played down the Report as only based on perception and we are likely to continue to hear more accusations and counter accusations: but there is a simple answer. We need a neutral mechanism to investigate and report on corruption and here I make two suggestions.

I understand that there is a chapter of Transparency International in Trinidad and Tobago; some group of concerned citizens should consider setting one up in Guyana. Apart from this, and more importantly, since both sides have nothing to fear, the government and opposition should immediately agree, even if the taxpayers have to foot the bill, to an arrangement whereby annually Parliament selects three of its members (two chosen by the opposition from the government side and one chosen by the Government from the Opposition) for a thorough corruption investigation by Trans-parency International or some independent international body of this sort. This investigation should also be compulsory for all presidents and prime ministers upon leaving office.

As many modern day politicians have found, it is almost impossible to hide resources acquired through corruption today. Let us now see how serious the government and opposition are about ending corruption.

Yours faithfully,

Lisa Scott