Crime and corruption continue to define Guyana

Dear Editor,

There is much anticipation and interest by Guyanese, home and abroad, in the dawn of this new day. A day when many believe that real change will come to the nation as the people will ensure that good governance becomes a reality once again. The year 2010 for most Guyanese was nothing but another twelve months of heightened criminal activity. We have seen banditry in all forms: robberies of the most vicious kind and murders of the most unimaginable kind. We have witnessed Sheema Mangar’s gruesome death, all for a cell phone; we have witnessed the robbery and murder of several businessmen; we have experienced the horrific murder of a child, Neesa Gopaul. In 2010 execution-style killings returned with a vengeance; in one night five including a baby were gunned down in Cummings Lodge. Days later a man lay lifeless in front of his premises with 20 gunshots wounds. Guyanese have lived to see the day when children are charged and are suspects in major criminal acts. It appears that a teenager is involved in one in every three gun crimes. We ended the year with some kidnappings and ransoms demanded. A new year has come and major crimes committed years ago remain unsolved. I speak of the execution of Ronald Waddell, the slaying of Minister Sawh and his siblings, the Kaieteur News killings, the Agricola beheading and murder mayhem, the Bartica and Lusignan massacres, the Lindo Creek slaughter, and so many more.

Guyanese have also been reminded of how corrupt a nation we have become; the Auditor General’s Report has consistently reminded us of this state of affairs. Volda Lawrence MP, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, in the presentation of her committee’s report on the 2006 Auditor General Report had this to say:  “… collusion does exist between officials, between various budget agencies such as ministries and contractors, to rob the nation of taxpayers’ money.” In her November 18 presentation to the National Assembly, Lawrence opined that almost every year there was overpayment to contractors of hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars, and in many instances the agency failed to recover those monies, yet the contractor was given more contracts.

Crime and corruption continue to define current-day Guyana, while those in authority seem to be either ignorant of the facts, oblivious to the reality, or unconcerned about governing Guyana. Whatever their disposition, Guyanese are tired of living in a state with this level of crime. Despite the deleterious national security situation the PPP/C government has refused every kind of international help offered.

The British offered their money and expertise to reform the security system but the government, through the HPS, Dr Luncheon, told Guyanese that the British wanted to run the Guyana government’s show, so there went the help, and we are left with the mayhem. Guyanese must, therefore, ask the obvious question, why? Transparency International has reported on this sad state of affairs, but of course the government claimed that the report was wrong.

Guyanese must, therefore, ensure that they make 2011 the year when good governance will be restored to Guyana. With a large percentage of our voting population being young people I am confident that real change will come. I was personally heartened when young people from all parts of Guyana joined the campaign in January 2010, to drive the registration process. These young people came out when Gecom failed to provided direction via the local media regarding registration, to ensure that they motivated Guyanese to turn out and register to vote. They joined the PNCR on the ground knocking on doors and doing volunteer work in the communities to inform people about the registration process. My hats off to these young people, and I wish to say how encouraged I was when high school children took time off to get involved and get their peers 14 years and above to register. These young people motivated me and sparked a new flame of hope in me. Our task now is to ensure that we continue to encourage and motivate everyone to get involved in the election process, and to turn out and vote to ensure that real change comes in 2011.
God’s richest blessings and a productive New Year to all!

Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor