In its editorial of July 10th Stabroek News called on President Ali to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the damaging claims made in two VICE News broadcasts particularly the one on July 7th where it appeared that Chinese businessmen operating here were openly discussing acts of bribery and money laundering committed in this jurisdiction.
The editorial stated “It now behoves the President to avoid the excuses and set up a Commission of Inquiry into what has been alleged in the documentary. Its members should largely come from outside the country for it to have any credibility, and ideally it should have the cooperation of the Chinese who under normal circumstances would not want their nationals answering before a foreign tribunal. If the Chinese themselves are sincere about combating corruption, however, there may be diplomatic ways around that”.
Since that editorial there has been no word from the government on a Commission of Inquiry although President Ali and other government officials have spoken vaguely and unconvincingly of areas that should be investigated.
On July 18th, former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran also urged President Ali to set up a Commission of Inquiry to examine the allegations in the two VICE News broadcasts.
In his accountability column in Stabroek News, Mr Goolsarran noted that there had been further revelations by VICE News of alleged Chinese involvement in money laundering activities, the use of intermediaries and the paying of bribes to secure government contracts, especially in relation to large infrastructure developmental works being undertaken.
“Considering: (i) the scale of the alleged money laundering activities; (ii) lack of capacity of … watchdog agencies and their reporting relationships; and (iii) their less-than-impressive track record in dealing condignly with issues relating to corruption in government, the President should …appoint a Commission of Inquiry to look into the allegations. Depending on the outcome of the inquiry, an internationally recognized investigative agency, selected with the assistance of the United Nations, should be hired to undertake the assignment”, Mr Goolsarran asserted.
On two occasions, on the sidelines of events, President Ali was asked by Stabroek News about an investigation into the VICE News allegations. On July 11th at the opening of the National Toshaos Conference, the President said: “What is clear, there are some people there who are saying they are involved in such activities… if you look at the video and that definitely requires an investigation… And I’m hoping… the relevant security and relevant agencies are looking at this because it is clear that someone says they are involved”.
This was not convincing at all as the general public would be aware that as President, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces it was well within Mr Ali’s powers to ensure that an investigation is done and to muster a Commission of Inquiry as he has belatedly done as it relates to the attempt to rig the March 2nd 2020 general elections.
On July 13th, on the sidelines of a reception hosted by the High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana to commemorate Canada Day, President Ali was asked again about an investigation at which point he said that his government will be going after investors who utilize “middlemen” to conduct their businesses in Guyana.
“I am saying this very clearly, to the public, to investors, there is absolutely no need to go through any middleman. There is absolutely no need to engage any lobbyist. There is absolutely no need for anyone coming to you. And we will have to deal with the situation because if you engage middlemen and lobbyists who want to claim that they have more than what they have, then you are also accountable and liable because it means you are prepared to engage in something illegal.
“So I am warning and this is something I have asked the Attorney General to look at. I want him to look at how we can strengthen the laws to deal with these types of people, not only the people who operate like that but also the people who engage them. There is absolutely no need for that,” President Ali said.
Stabroek News then asked the President whether an investigation was initiated to which he responded that he had already made a pronouncement on the matter and would not be revisiting it.
Pressed on whether he has asked the Commissioner of Police to launch a probe, the President then said “I said when I looked at the second airing of it [the extended video] there was somebody who self-confessed that they are involved in money laundering that is what I said. I said that is a self-confession and for the security to look at and I support any investigation.
“I am not going to direct the Police Commission-er. I said there is a self-confession, that somebody there said they are involved in something illegal and any security force would want to investigate that. Don’t ask me to direct anyone. I am a President that would never get involved in directing anyone. I have a constitutional responsibility to this country and Guyana and the media and everyone can rest assured that this President is going to work within the construct and constraint of the Constitution of Guyana.”
This again was a diversion as the major concern isn’t about middlemen per se but coarse allegations of monies being paid by Chinese businesspersons for access and for projects and which allegations pertained to Vice President Jagdeo – a key and influential figure in government and the point man for the oil and gas sector. It is also worthy of note – taking the President’s denunciation of middlemen into account – that it was Vice President Jagdeo who had clearly been engaging with these persons at his home, an occurrence that the government has not addressed at all.
On July 13th, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn told Stabroek News that the allegations of corruption and money laundering involving Chinese nationals operating here made in the VICE News reports will be investigated.
“If they called for an investigation, an investigation would have to be done”, Mr Benn stated.
Asked which agency will be tasked with the investigation, Mr Benn said a discussion will have to be held before that decision is made. “We would have to discuss it to see which one is the most appropriate,” he said. More than a week has passed but no announcement has been made.
President Ali cannot be oblivious to the fact that with the growth trajectory the country is on there cannot be a perception, let alone the reality, that pay-to-play is prevalent here and that its tentacles reach into influential parts of the government. It is his responsibility to do his utmost to dispel any such taint since incalculable harm could be done to the country’s image, the investment climate and compliance with international obligations such as those to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and the Financial Action Task Force.
Further, given his centrality to the allegations, Vice President Jagdeo will have to be one of the key subjects of the investigation and a Commission of Inquiry. Therefore, the President should ask him to step aside to allow a probe to proceed without any hint or appearance of interference.
As stated in the July 10th editorial, “If the government fails to address what has been revealed by VICE News, it will have failed in its mandate to the Guyanese nation”.
