– President says strong national institutions, private sector and citizens can help ensure transparency
By Alva Solomon
Putting an end to corruption requires strong national institutions and the support of the private sector and citizens, President David Granger said on Saturday evening.
His comments were made at the launch of the book “Governance , Transparency and Accountability” by financial management consultant and former Auditor General Dr Anand Goolsarran.
The gathering at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown for the event included Government officials and transparency advocates, including Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott.
He said the Government is committed to excising corruption and improving transparency.
“I feel that in order to eradicate corruption, we must have very strong national institutions”, he said. He identified those state agencies which he noted are well known. These include the Public Service Commission, which he said must be in the hands of those who are not corrupt.
He said the Public Service Commission is a body which makes appointments for persons to public offices. “The integrity of the Public Service Commission itself needs to be beyond question”, he added.
He spoke also of the Public Procurement Commission, noting that Government is working to establish that body so that goods and services and works are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
He said also that the Integrity Commission should be made a functioning body.
The President also identified the Office of the Auditor General, noting that the relevant head should be qualified to carry out the functions of that job. In addition, he recognized the historical and important nature of the Office of the Ombudsman, and what the Ombudsman’s role was in the 1970s.
“These are very important institutions which we need to preserve”, the Head of State said.
He said the hypocritical views on corruption are usually confined to the smaller players, and that the question of who really can afford to pay brides and why do they pay those bribes needs to be answered.
The President said the question of where the proceeds of corruption go and how they arrive there needs to be asked. He said corruption is not the “property of two government clerks”, noting that there are those who ferry contraband items which value in the billions.
He recalled that former President Jagdeo, during his term in office, noted that the country was losing billions in revenue from unpaid taxes on fuel smuggled. Ironically, President Granger noted, in an administrative region, a public officer informed that without smuggled fuel the region would grind to a halt.
The President said the private sector also needs to play a role in fighting corruption, adding that “Government cannot fight corruption alone”.
He also identified civil society and the international community in combating corruption, as he urged all Guyanese to be vigilant as regards corrupt practices.
Dr Goolsarran’s book, a compilation of articles published in the Stabroek News daily between 2014-2015, contains 100 articles of some 1500 words on average.
Speaking of the author‘s character, Minister Ramjattan noted the fearlessness of Goolsarran, as well as the softer side of the former Auditor General. He said the book provides a “fall back” approach on gaining knowledge of the public accountability practices, which it highlights.
He said that, in 1992, when the PPP administration assumed office, the government at the time called for audits of public agencies, and he noted that Goolsarran, at the time, undertook a “wonderful job” of auditing the public finances.
He said that sadly, in 2004, that professional accountant was left with no option but to find greener pastures overseas. To this end, he said, Guyana sometimes “push away” the talented.
Professor Clive Thomas, who penned the forward to the book, described the book as a “gem” and encouraged persons to read it.
Goolsarran noted that the book covers the financial events post May 11, 2015. He noted that he undertook coverage of issues until December last year.
The book will be available at Austin’s Book Store on Church Street next week, and interested persons can contact the author on 233-2486 for further information on obtaining copies of the book.
