THE move to bring those responsible for financial transgressions discovered by audits is being slowed by fearful witnesses, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan said on Monday.
Ramjattan was at the time responding to a question about the lack of prosecutions and sloth in prosecuting errant public officials. Government has come under severe criticisms for not acting on the audit findings. Addressing stakeholders at the Golden Jubilee, National Symposia Series underway at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre (ACICC), Minister Ramjattan made it clear that government is keen on bringing those responsible for impropriety to justice wherever they may be.
“Minister (Jennifer) Westford has been charged and that’s pending. The trial is going on as I understand. There is somebody with her who has been charged. The fellow from GPL, Aeshwar Deonarine has been charged and Mr. Carvil Duncan has been charged, prosecution is going on there. We have asked the Canadian Royal Mounted Police to find Mr. Aeshwar Deonarine (former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of Administration), they are going to find him soon and he is going to be sent back here. ”
Minister Ramjattan stated that there are “lots of other forensic audits that indicate they should go further on, into police investigations” but the lack of a witness protection programme is stymieing the prosecution’s efforts. “A lot of the witnesses that gave their evidence to the auditors are scared like hell to give their evidence to the police now, knowing that those fellows that they might bring to court, know that they can suffer at their hands.”
The minister lamented that a witness protection plan was not available locally, “So they are scared.” The Minister pointed out that he was not going to push persons to testify and “when they go the Magistrate’s Court, they say, ‘I can’t remember’ so you compel them to take the stand and there is nothing you can do”. He indicated, however that Government is trying to see how best this hurdle can be overcome. He reiterated that whilst the cases are continuing to be pursued, these actions take time.

He made clear, Government’s position on the audits. “This Administration will never allow stolen monies to remain with those who have stolen those monies. We are going to get them back, and that is why we have set up this SARU (Stolen Assets Recovery Unit)”. Government has embarked on a series of audits of Ministries and Agencies to ascertain their financial status and unearth any suspected improprieties.
Addressing the opening of the event today in Guyana, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry expressed her enthusiasm for the activity, as it will provide for the country to make good on those independence promises of 50 years ago, she said.
Fifty years ago, Guyana, a relatively small country, boasting outstanding potential, celebrated its political emancipation from over 200 years of British colonial oppression.
Meanwhile, also addressing the event Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry told the gathering that the post-colonial journey has been one of bountiful missed opportunities. “In many regard, we have not made good on the independence promises. We have not provided our people with enough space or the opportunities for constructive and productive self-determination and, as a consequence, Guyanese, a people blessed with an exaggerated sense of tolerance are rapidly running short of patience,” she said.
She called on the gathering, to address the questions of the discussion with an open mind. “Let us think ‘out of the box’ whenever necessary, let us undertake to shape our future, let us create Unity in Diversity,” the Minister urged, as she applauded those involved for embracing this challenging, but very necessary exercise, at this most opportune moment in time. “Your objectivity of purpose, the honesty of function, the currency of intent, the relevance of goal, the determination to find solutions and the commitment to do so are the hallmarks of constructive endeavour,” she said, and explained that she waits with interest the outcome of the symposia.
The symposia are being facilitated by the Academic Working Group of the National Commemoration Commission of Guyana and US. The activities facilitated by this group, for the 50th Independence celebrations, are those that focus on providing safe academic spaces to face the country’s realities, so that they can be fixed.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Guyana and Chairman of the Symposia Sub-Committee, 50th Anniversary Independence Celebrations Committee, New York, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, explaining the concept behind these activities said, “We thought it important to have an intellectual discourse about our yesterdays, our todays and our tomorrows.”
Professor Griffith who also read Martin Carter’s poem, “I came from the Nigger Yard”, explained that the interrogation and opportunity to reflect and think about the todays and tomorrows are also captured in the songs and music, and culture that form part of each programme. He pointed out that these cultural performances capture the “things endured in the past, some of the trials and tribulations we are managing now, and the kind of things that we would want to think of, if we want to celebrate and leave a legacy of potency for the people who come after us.” (GINA)