Like the media ‘fraid to call out the opposition on corruption!
–Aubrey Norton says he has plenty evidence

OLD Kai will be very hesitant to take up any leadership position in the Guyana Government in the highly unlikely case that he is offered one. That will mean he will have to deconstruct his current two-flat home, and move into a single-bedroom quarters with outdoor bathroom facilities to please the opposition media. This, in their eyes, will confirm that Old Kai is not corrupt and that he is a ‘Jagan man’.This is what passes for responsible and sensible journalism in Guyana these days. Old Kai is aware of members in some of those very opposition media entities who only started in the business a few years ago, and during this time proudly built their homes. Was there some form of corruption involved?
All around us in the many housing schemes that have been established, Guyanese of all walks of life and social strata are realising the dream of owning their own homes. Owning a home is a form of empowerment, because there was a time in this country when it was simply not possible; when only the PNC officials were given house lots. I recall the scandal with Hamilton Green and the house lots issue during that time. The PNC eventually closed down the Housing Ministry under Desmond Hoyte, indicating how serious they were about Guyanese owning their own homes.
It was the PNC which wanted to forcibly remove ‘squatters’ in the early 90s from the Sophia area, their very own supporters; but by then, Cheddi Jagan had become President, and he was forced to intervene and prevent the Mr. Granger’s clique from taking away those lands from the people. Some conveniently forget this period.
Overseas visitors now marvel at some of the construction around us, which, in some cases, rival those in North America and elsewhere. If you travel to Berbice; Essequibo; Linden; Bartica; Lethem; Madhia and right here in Demerara, you will come to the same conclusion. Are all these people corrupt?
But for the few known rabid anti-government elements in the media who do the bidding of their political bosses, they would have you believe that any PPP/C Government official who builds a home must have done so through illegal means. These people do not have the ability to save or go through the banking system like any other Guyanese; it has to be corruption. So, if Bharrat Jagdeo, the longest serving Head of State in Guyana’s history, builds a home for his retirement, it is a crime. The size of Jagdeo’s property is apparently giving some a headache, especially one particular individual over at the ‘Once-Upon-a-Time’ newspaper. Robert Persaud builds a home; he is corrupt. Roger Luncheon builds a home; he is corrupt. Rohee builds a home; he is corrupt.
Let us take a look at Robert Persaud, for example: This is a man who, since his youth, had shown exceptional leadership skills, and was an entrepreneur before he accepted a leadership position in the Government. Persaud was the General Manager and part-owner of a local television station; his wife is also a professional, and together they worked several years to achieve their dreams in our land. They did not seek to move overseas, but wanted to stay here and contribute to our development.
Persaud, during this time, quickly ascended the leadership ladder in the ruling party, and became a household name. His expertise was utilised when he was offered a Government appointment and made Information Liaison to the President, with responsibility for the State media. He proved very effective, and in 2006, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, where he was very proactive.
There were remarks that the man operated like a robot, as he never slowed or waivered in energy and zest in his plans for the development of agriculture across Guyana. In 2011, he was then placed to lead the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment where, again, he is displaying the resolute effectiveness that has become a hallmark trait.
When I go on my walks in the National Park these days, I witness first-hand the rapid transformation underway. There is a revolutionary anti-littering law which will be enforced soon, and I hope Guyanese take careful note of this, especially my neighbour who, instead of paying $260 to the disposal truck, prefers to either dump or burn his garbage on the roadside, to my detriment. Well, he will soon have to choose between paying $260 or a $50,000 fine.
That digression aside, Persaud and his wife have been working professionals for close to two decades: Why is it that their ability to build a home and enjoy amenities like any other professional is now a crime for the opposition? This is the nasty propaganda they peddle, hoping some of it will stick, so as to tarnish the characters of those associated with the PPP. It is another key element of their political smear campaign.
They are, however, exposed, in that not one of them has chosen to question the opposition leaders on accusations of corrupt practices. Aubrey Norton publicly announced recently that he has evidence of corruption among the leadership of the PNC/R, Mr. Granger’s party. Why hasn’t the opposition media sought to expose this damning revelation?
Former AFC leaders, including Balwant Persaud and current AFC councillor, Haseef Yusuf, every day accuse the leadership of that Party of engaging in corrupt practices, and seeking to silence those who try to expose it. Shockingly, the opposition media has been silent on this as well.
However, when it comes to the PPP/C leaders, this clique in the media is leading the charge in making the allegations, despite not having one shred of evidence of corruption. This, in itself, is a form of moral corruption on their part. But, does that bother them? Clearly, the answer is ‘No!’