Perpetrators must be convicted before penalties can be applied

Dear Editor,

The Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh is reported in the Guyana Chronicle of July 12, 2011 as saying at a recent press conference that the administration will spare no effort in ensuring that the perpetrators of the recent pension fraud and their accomplices face the full extent of the applicable laws and that the strongest available penalties are brought to bear against them, including assets forfeiture.

In his short endeavour to portray himself as being tall on corruption in government, Dr Singh might have overstepped the mark and omitted to say that the full force of the law will be brought to bear if there is a conviction. None of the tough measures he wishes in his no nonsense, no tolerance for corruption charade will materialize unless those charged are convicted.

Yours faithfully,
Raymond Chester