Dear Editor,
I refer to the embarrassing headline ‘US report lists Guyana as `major’ money laundering state ‒points to weaknesses in AML fight’ (SN May 13). The jury has spoken. It never needed any lengthy deliberation and, for some thinking observant citizens, the harsh verdict of these words was always reverberating unceasingly in the inner ear. By any definition, or interpretation, ‘major’ money laundering state is damning. It is also revealing.
First, Guyana did not achieve this major notoriety in the last two years. If anything, given the thankless, fiercely resisted, efforts of this government, it might have just avoided being labelled a ‘super major’ money laundering state. Regardless, as the Minister of Finance accurately stated, this adds to the country’s misery. I can attest somewhat to that misery in view of an international conversation participated in just recently.
Second, despite the denials, prevarications, and endless misrepresentations of the previous government, and particularly by its leaders, the ugly monstrous record (and label) is now affixed on the forehead of this country with all the searing and irreversible intensity of a branding iron. High flying carrion pretending to be eagles must now come down to earth; all have been dragged down to this desolate plain in this harsh reality check, this hard gut check. The time of political pretence is over; there is origin and there must be responsibility attached, if not flagellating, too.
Third, it is that same brand of the devil that causes Guyanese to be singled out for cold contemptuous scrutiny at certain foreign ports. First class travel privileges matter for naught; in fact, they might be an indicative ‘red flag.’ I thank the leaders of the current opposition, who now shamelessly and brazenly pontificate about what is wrong with this country, while conveniently ignoring this reprehensible state of affairs for which they are responsible and accountable. They need to take complete ownership of the listing of ‘major’ money laundering state. After all, it was cultivated and prospered under their accommodating lucrative watch. Such was the concatenation of conspirators, and the associated burgeoning, now pervasive, criminality that flourished, and that is so neatly encapsulated in a ‘major’ money laundering state.
Editor, the evidence has always been there under the panoply of perverse commercial pantomimes. There was/is major real estate developments; major mining operations; and major buying, spending, and pretending, whether of the retailing, banking, dealing, or cashing and carrying variety, among other shams and scams. Amidst the sea of major accommodating, there was major winking and major merrymaking, too. Now the country’s misery intensifies. Major figures, like Professor Thomas calculated and cautioned on the underground economy; for years, nobodies (like me) wrote and warned that this politically self-serving Faustian bargain is Russian roulette that will fire at the worst possible time. Well, it has.
Now the innocents in this society will be lumped together with the riff-raff criminal architecture ‒ white collar, white hot, and whitewashed ‒ entrenched in this nation. In many respects, the political and commercial elements might be inextricably and cancerously attached, which is even more problematic for an already problem plagued society. Innocent citizens will feel the brunt of the heavy price that has to be paid for the excesses and extravagances of the circle of criminal beneficiaries and abettors.
In a not unrelated vein, and being the wise-guy that I can be, I have, on occasion, good-naturedly heckled my Latin American friends about the powder trade and related proceeds. It used to bring discomfort to them. Thus, I wonder what is in store for me, now that the record of ‘major’ money laundering state is emblazoned on Guyana, and an undeniable part of its financial DNA.
All of this forms part of the backdrop to those seeking a renewed lease on political life at the helm. I had promised myself that I would not vote again in a Guyanese election. For whatever it is worth, I have changed my mind, if only to prevent the false prophets and iniquitous from ascending again.
Last, I do hope that honest conscientious citizens ‒ especially genuine protesting ones ‒ can appreciate more clearly, that amidst the glitter of money laundering, there was no need for the grime and gore of taxes.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
