EMILE Mervin’s innocuous ‘piece of mischief’ in the SN, regarding corruption and Donald Ramotar’s pronouncement is quite empty and repetitive. It also joins the cacophonous chorus of accusers who lack corroboration for their spontaneous nastiness which they seek to eject on the PPP/C.
First, I ask the Mervins of Guyana why did they fail to pronounce on the following:
1.      The firing of the CANU and Custom’s officers for failing the polygraph (lie detector) test.
2.      The firing of those involved the Polar Bear scam.
3.      The many police officers who are currently before various magistrates/judges for corrupt practices in the execution of their duties.
4.      The actual presence of the Integrity Commission the function of which is to aid transparency and tackle corruption.
5.      The failure of the PNCR to comply with the regulation to declare assets etc. to this body.
These are clear cases where the ‘course of law’ took care of corrupt individuals. These should have been highlighted, except that the ‘wicked’ like to act blind when it suits them.
A second factor regarding corruption is that of the evidence. Many people are very hasty and general in casting suspicious eyes and hurling invectives at the PPP/C. These accusations lack substance and only gather fleeting momentum. To date, the accusers have only been talking. PPP/C Presidential candidate, Donald Ramotar, anticipating the attacks, has already emphatically declared the ‘Let the Law take its course’ modus operandus. Donald Ramotar also pointed out the all-important fact that the PPP/C did not move into wide-scale purging when it took office in 1992. Purging is necessary, but one must be careful and ‘not burn the house to kill the mouse.’ Noticeably, corruption is dwindling, and people are much more optimistic these days.
I close with a point of what is the prevailing zeitgeist (as some like to say) in Guyana. The German word refers to the ‘spirit of the times.’ Guyana, prior to 1992, was steeped in corruption. This culture did not change with the new government (PPP), and even though it is trying desperately, curbing corruption will take some time to ‘be sorted out.’ Corruption has to be dealt with it at all levels-the personal, private and public. Only this will bring about the desired changes in quick time. So I implore the Mervins to help, not just shout in ignorance and immaturity.