THE State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) recently moved into the Enmore/Hope Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and removed computers belonging to this local government authority. The story behind this issue is that the computers were reportedly given to the NDC by the Basic Needs Trust Fund, and at a statutory meeting, the decision was taken to have them sold. This story seems to be evolving, and like most, if not everything in this society where party politics is involved, all may not yet be known.

Suffice to say that the local government authority is a tier of government with the other two being national and regional governments. Whatever assets are possessed by these tiers belong to the state and should form part of the state’s inventory, regardless of where they are used. Our country must reach the stage where citizens are concerned about how the state accounts for its assets. These assets belong to the people and any held view that such should not be of interest to the people, is to allow those elected by the people to manage their affairs as they like.

International efforts to improve accountability in governance played a role in the formation of SARU. In 2008 during the presidency of Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption which was passed by member-states in 2003. As a member of the United Nations, Guyana carries a responsibility to effect laws, policies and programmes to realise the requirements outlined in conventions, declarations and agreements.

The focus that SARU should not have taken the computers because the NDC had voted to sell them, the fact that the chairman of the NDC was the one who stood to benefit from the acquisition, or that the NDC is PPP/C-dominated, would lose sight of bringing accountability to state assets. The effort by SARU to do so could become blurred with the intervention of PPP/C Member of Parliament and Attorney-at-law Anil Nandlall, who requested that the computers be returned to the NDC or SARU would face court action.

Politics has its place in society, but politics becomes dangerous when used to undermine the state and the legitimacy of its institutions. The council has not denied SARU’s claim that a decision was taken at its meeting to dispose of the computers. It is important to note that the NDC’s reaction to the computers being seized is that they were donations. Whether the computers were given to the council as donations or bought by the NDC, they remain the property of the NDC.

A decision to dispose of any state asset has to follow the procedure for disposal which SARU is contending was not done. It is unfortunate from a political perspective that the NDC is PPP/C-controlled, given that in our polarised society it could carry connotations, one way or the other. At the same time the PPP/C under whose governance Guyana ratified the UN Convention on Corruption should vigilantly be seeking to ensure its effect is felt across the country.

It is in the PPP/C’s interest as it is in the interest of every political party to educate their representatives in government that they cannot do as they like with state assets and not following procedures can lead to criminal acts, i.e. corruption.  Corruption is a crime that has morphed into a scourge in our society. It tarnishes the country’s image and its people’s reputation, it attracts stringent requirements to access international loans and grants and it robs and deprives the people of what’s theirs.

The upper echelons of the political and governmental leadership should not want to be associated with or affiliated to crime. They should let it be known that corruption would not be tolerated, neither can those who engage in corrupt practices find protection in the party or government. Unfortunately, the PPP/C government did not find such approach valuable. Unless education against corruption and tough love are followed through with, corruption will continue to plague the society, threaten the credibility of political parties, their leaders, and the effort to bring about good governance

The yearly Auditor General’s Report remains proof that corruption is pervasive and work has to be done to stamp it out. Guyana’s slight improvement in the Transparency International Corruption Index should serve as impetus to do better, not become complacent. SARU is a necessary department in government and it should have the support to enforce the law and conduct its business with the strictest of prudence, across party and government lines, and let the chips fall where they may.