Dear Editor,
Over the next 25 years as an oil-producing country, most of us do not want Guyana to become a country where corrupt politicians and officials provide unfair advantages for their families (nepotism), friends and business associates (cronyism) at the economic expense of the overwhelming majority of the population who are farmers, workers, the unemployed, the under-employed, the dispossessed, the marginalized, the poor and the hungry. The result would be a nation where rich people get richer and poor people get poorer.
At its core, corruption is about greedy and dishonest persons who come from all political parties, ethnicities, classes and genders. In addition to the grand corruption by some politicians, officials and business people, there is also petty corruption by some average people and small businesses that, for example, pay bribes to avoid traffic fines, or to get preferential treatment for a public service, or they sell expired and substandard goods and services.
Therefore, as our National Poet Martin Carter advised: “We are all involved. We are all consumed”.
Most Guyanese are good people, including in the government and in in the political opposition. Unfortunately, because of political loyalty, ethnicity and the fear of personal risk, most of us just watch and do nothing about corrupt behaviour.
While it is absolutely necessary to strengthen laws, to improve public services, to increase incomes and to make gender equality a reality, a legal and material approach is not sufficient. There also has to be a spiritual approach.
Religions provide a moral compass to cultivate the values, principles, ethics, attitudes and skills for strengthening character so that we the people can end the culture of silence and stop corrupt politicians and officials who, with impunity, break laws and escape fines, sanctions and dismissal.
Corruption is clearly condemned in religious texts.
The Christian Bible states: “A bribe corrupts the heart.”; “The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the way of justice.”; “Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They loved gain from wrongdoing.”
The Hindu Bhagavad-Gita states: “Bribe takers are thieves.”; “Persons who praise bribers and justify them are also corrupt.”; “A dishonest person is not reliable, sincere or consistent and has no integrity.” All Hindus are expected to practice aparigraha (non-acceptance of bribes) and asteya (non-stealing).
The Islamic Qur’an states: “Damned is the bribe-giver (or ‘corrupter’), the bribe-taker (or ‘corrupted’) and he who goes between them.”; “And Allah does not like corruption.”
The Baha’i Kitab-i-Aqdas states that a person who “unlawfully exacts money from the people, be it even a single penny, to secure private gains, will surely be deprived of the blessings of the Almighty.”
All religions should come together and train corruption hunters and resisters to speak out with “strong minds and hearts” against all corrupt practices and ill-gotten wealth.
Anti-corruption activities must become acceptable and a normal way of doing things. Whistleblowing (passing on information about wrongdoing) by public and private sector employees must be protected by law.
Joint anti-corruption activities should be organized together at the grassroots across churches, temples and masjids such as prayer days, seminars, debates, participation in government /civil society consultations and committees, media interviews, peaceful protests and the production of booklets, posters and videos.
Corrupters must realize that many people ‘see right through them’. Religious texts warn that “There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and nothing hid, that shall not be known” because God is always knowing and watching corrupters.
Our wise Guyanese Elders warned wrongdoers that “moon ah run till daylight ketch am’ which means that a person may think that they are getting away with misdeeds but one day they will be caught; and “bush get ears and dutty get tongue’ which means that a person may think that nobody sees or hears what they do, but yet their secrets are known.
Religious texts teach us that one of the most effective ways to prevent and minimize corrupt behaviour is to ostracize corrupters by shunning them (the ‘cold shoulder’) and shutting them out from friendship and conversations until they recognize their guilt, seek repentance and change their ways because we do not want their bad company to ruin our good morals.
When corrupters are found guilty, they must face the consequences, regardless of their political affiliation, ethnicity or gender.
At the same time, religious texts also teach us to avoid being self-righteous, arrogant or partisan because all persons accused of corruption are innocent until proven guilty.
We have to follow the Golden Rule of Religions: “Do to others what you would have them do to you” because although we may think we are standing firm, we may also be tempted to deviate from our good character.
Even some persons who are advanced in spiritual understanding and intellectual ability sometimes fall prey to temptations. Money and a corrupt system can turn honest people towards shady dealings.
Our focus must be on eliminating wrong behaviour and not the persons. Therefore, after the guilty ‘pay the price’ and repent, we must forgive and gently restore them, and protect their families from disrespect, shame and fear.
Hopefully, the repented wrongdoers will become the strongest corruption hunters and resisters.
The next letter will explore the critical role that the Guyanese diaspora must play in fighting corruption.
The immediate priority for Guyanese, at home and in the diaspora, is to prevent corruption in the campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic. Guyana is receiving grants and loans in the billions of Guyana dollars. Corruption would hamper and weaken Guyana’s response to the pandemic.
Every Guyanese needs to know how each dollar is used. The international donors and loan agencies must publish what they are funding. The Ministry of Health must publish how they are spending the funds.
Yours faithfully,
Geoffrey Da Silva
