– on ‘corruptocracy’ and kleptocracy
This commentary just cried out last weekend to be written by me. Even at the risk of joining others who make a mantra and seem paranoid regarding corruption and thievery in high places, I was moved to share a few views on the issues.
Especially after President Jagdeo’s latest declarations on the early findings at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and as a simple but powerful piece of cynicism and sarcasm contained in correspondence published in the Stabroek News of last Friday (18 April 08).
It is “natural”, the role of the formal political opposition, to monitor and scrutinise a government as it manages the resources, hopefully, in the interest of all citizens. But some opposition and related interest groups and individuals take it upon themselves to relentlessly – as the old slogan went – “Oppose, expose and depose”. In recent years, professional oppositionists here used the issue of corruption in high government places to highlight the alleged unsuitability of this administration.
I would often scoff at these attacks when they first crystallised. Because I was aware of cancerous corruption in the old days, amongst my erstwhile higher-up “comrades” in the powerful PNC, I considered allegations of corruption against the post-1992 PPP/C officials and their friends to be child’s play — and plays to deflect the wickedness of the PNC past to the new corridors of power and their inhabitants. Especially so that the new and current generation would believe that governmental mischief began with the PPP.
Of course, I knew differently. As would those of my age, still with conscience and truthfulness onto themselves.
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Past mischief…
This is no time to dwell on that unfortunate past but the youth should have a peek into the origins of the present rottenness.
I mean that often, in the old days, I felt that my party, which I believed in then, earned a patent in electoral engineering. I mean the art, science, finesse and crudity of elections rigging! Man, I verily believed that my people invented the theft of votes in this portion of the world. And when a people’s will could be stolen, hijacked, the theft and pilfering of everything else could follow easily. And they did. As even the ultimate founder-leader was to find out. To his chagrin.
There was manipulation of tenders or no tenders at all; there was for a decade or longer, no public accounts to be audited; favouritism and nepotism – jobs for the boys, friends and family ruled the roost, (guess what? I even tried to accept a dash of repotism in those days – why shouldn’t loyal comrades be rewarded? I’m older and much chastened now …), corruption in the ministries and elsewhere led to my preparing speakers’ briefs on the subject for elections campaigns, along with the sub-theme of irregular practices. Yes, when a comrade “bought” a jeep for $50 and children and donkeys voted, the cancer of corruption erupted. Before 1992!
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The kleptocracy today
Evidence or no evidence, convictions or not, it is irrefutable that “Corruptocracy” and kleptocracy are institutions now established. I have to admit, to concede. From certain facts known and seen, but which is difficult to prove in a court of law. For the usual myriad of reasons. Legal and otherwise.
The print media editorials and columns are current and numerous. This, my own contribution, is not to supplement them but just to add my endorsement of the principal allegation: corruption and thievery are rampant. The past, post ’92, is now just surfacing after earlier obvious incidents were (white) washed away.
White and blue collar thieves realise that after millions are stolen, even if they are prosecuted, the odds are in their favour in a judicial system harsh on prosecutorial short-comings.
Poverty in the old days did not breed significant crime. Today need is used to excuse crime. But greed underlies corruption and theft in governmental places wherein millions of taxpayers’ dollars are diverted to individual gain. I once read that kleptomania is “an irresistible tendency to theft, by persons not normally so tempted.” Look what people have become. If not outright robberies or drug-trafficking, it is stealing, as a habit, from the state’s honest tax-payers!
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The President and
I Persaud
Alas, just as the stories of lowly Customs officers becoming virtually wealthy after just months on the job, so too is the current scepticism and indifference at President Jagdeo’s promise to crackdown on the GRA scoundrels. How unfortunate the public’s mood and perception. But you can’t blame the doubting tax-payers.
I was struck by these sentiments contained in an I. Persaud letter in last Friday’s Stabroek:
“So I guess the President will once again supposedly have to personally run down the culprits at the GRA, that all and sundry are fully aware of. But like the duty-free, dolphin and milk scam issues, when anointed people are involved, events will be caught up in the myriad of court issues, poor inexperienced prosecutions, union issues, eventual governmental complacency, supervening events ie Carifesta (where we will celebrate our glorious mediocrity), dogs biting people, Ignition Concert, local cricket at the Bourda sward, and inevitably will die its predictable wasted and natural death.
A few people will be displaced via their luxury rides to their luxury homes, to live in peace and harmony with their corrupt nouveau riche neighbours, go to church on Sundays and prepare for the hereafter, and the big ones will continue to nest at Customs House, at the usual expense of the Guyanese overburdened taxpayers.”
If this happens indeed, what a sorry indictment for this administration. Prove us wrong, President! Prove us wrong courts!
Until…
1) No Comrade Corbin, do not sabotage “your own” Carifesta. (You’ll lose “points”.)
2) Two persons have been charged with killing 23 persons in two massacres.
3) How cheap human life has become? Or outright worthless to the human beasts.
4) Look for the Guyana Cook-Up Show’s New Kitchen.
’ Til next week!
