There are four major issues relating directly and indirectly to corruption facing Guyana at the present time. These are the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission, the reform of the Integrity Commission, the utilization of the Freedom of Information Act and the passage of corruption legislation.
The Public Procurement Commission was recommended by the Constitution Reform Commission in 2000 and passed into law by amendment to the constitution in 2002. Its composition and functions are set out in the constitution but its essential role is as a body acceptable by both political parties to oversee public procurement. One would have thought that the then opposition would have aggressively pursued its establishment. But obstacles rooted in a political culture of non-cooperation which has generated a permanent political strategy to eke out a disagreement out of every potential agreement, has prevented any progress. The issue of the Public Procurement Commission was a major one for opposition parties between 2011 and 2015. Its rapid establishment would be a major step in the fight against corruption and the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) ought to make it a priority.
The Integrity Commission has no fangs. The opposition prior to 2015 has not cooperated with the Integrity Commission and I do not believe it has ever filed any returns, so contemptuous it has been of the commission. I have no idea, now that the opposition is in government,
