MONDAY the State Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) felt the need to question former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, on the law volumes that were purchased with State funds during his tenure, which he admitted he has in his possession and also offered to purchase for the state.
This information coming from the proverbial horse’s mouth is admittance to Guyanese that the books belong to the state and were purchased to do the work of the state. When the Attorney General Chambers, that legally advises the Executive, is empowered with contemporary legal understanding of issues, it improves the delivery of decision-making and justice.
Mr. Nandlall, who is presently a Member of Parliament representing the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), has taken umbrage for having to subject himself to being questioned by a branch of law enforcement. It is hoped in the polarised polity, where opportunity is often sought to make political mileage, that this former legal advisor to government and current lawmaker is not offended by being interrogated. From his utterances Mr. Nandlall never saw himself subjected to the Laws of Guyana, which is frightening, for he was chief legal advisor to the former government.
The laws are pretty straightforward of the consequences that will be borne by taking what does not belong to you. If the average man will be held and charged by the police on allegations that he stole his neighbour’s mangoes, a former AG being brought in for questioning, where he himself accepted he has taken the law volumes, he cannot expect to be treated differently. It is a fallacious defence on the part of Mr. Nandlall to say that the books only cost US$2000, which is less than the value of his two cellphones.
The intonation that seeking to ask question and hopefully moving to reclaim US$2000 that belongs to the state is unworthy of attention and the state is expending more cost through investigation, the same could also be said for the person who allegedly steals GYD$200 worth of his neighbour’s mangoes. Mr. Nandlall is either playing petty partisan politics or as a member of the legal fraternity, insulting the importance of pursuing justice to the stability of law and order in society. The new morphing political decadency, should it take roots, will lead us down a slippery slope.
Guyanese must not only feel, but also be assured that where any allegation exists or is made about theft or misappropriation of another person’s property, the state will pursue it to bring about justice, irrespective of who is involved. When it is known that the state will pursue persons, be they of the lowest or highest socio-economic order, in government or not, with connections or not, irrespective of the cost to the state, it forewarns that none will be spared and justice will be given a chance to prevail.
The PPP/C has thought it most appropriate to create a maelstrom about SOCU doing its job, crying victimisation, even in the face of Mr. Nandlall’s admittance that he has the books that were purchased for the office during the presidency of Donald Ramotar. It is not unreasonable to think, though for benefit of the development of society that it would to be taken as not so, that people can be wrong and strong. Compounding the appeal of victimhood is insertion of the ongoing spat between the former and current AG. Trying to impress the society that were it not for the spat between the two Mr. Nandlall would have been allowed to take the books without being questioned by the state does not say much for him. The integrity of his name could have been assured had he taken the sober decision to leave those books in the Chambers when he demitted the office. Where the books were bought by the state means they are the property of the state and cannot be disposed of unless authorised by the state.
Since then Mr. Nandlall has taken to social media to invoke Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s name and desecrate his legacy. According to him, “The PPP is a party whose leaders see arrest and imprisonment as part of our struggle. Many of my political forebearers, including, Dr. Cheddi Jagan have travelled this road. I am prepared to follow suit.” Dr. Jagan maybe many things to the society and mean many things to different people, but to give impression of imprisonment for unlawful acquisition of state property, he was never so accused or incarcerated.
