Dear Editor,
Congratulations on the excellent editorial in relation to the Polar beer matter, captioned ‘Fidelity farce,’ in the May 25, 2009 edition of the Stabroek News.
All Guyanese, irrespective of race or political affiliation, should be concerned about this matter. In my view, especially in the absence of the reason for the decision, the action of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) could be perceived as undermining the credibility of the President of Guyana and the effectiveness of both the Auditor General and the Commissioner of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The Auditor General is the peoples’ ‘watchdog’ on probity and transparency in government. By seeming to go against his recommendation, the DPP could appear as casting doubt on the Auditor General’s judgement and opinion, factors that are critical to his effectiveness as the peoples’ watchdog. Had the matter been allowed to go before a judge, all parties would have had a chance to be heard. A judicial decision not to proceed would have been more appropriate and would have preserved the integrity of the Office of the Auditor General.
From my recollection of bygone years, Question Time in Parliament was a way to get explanations and hold the government accountable. Is this process still in place, and if so, will be opposition parties make use of it?
From the government’s perspective, officials may wish to read Cheddi Jagan’s The West on Trial and reflect on the lesson Cheddi taught the prisoners when, as a young politician, he was first imprisoned among them.
Yours faithfully,
Harry Hergash
