THE enactment of plea bargaining and plea agreement legislation last year in Guyana was hailed as a progressive step in the administration of justice. Plea bargaining legislation, though new to Guyana, is in place in many developed societies for some time now.

What is progressive about this legislation is that it allows a person who has committed an offence to plead guilty to that crime with the understanding that when they do so they will receive an agreed sentence.

While for law enforcement officers this legislation is useful in reducing the number of unsolved crimes, there are always issues with victims and the wider society who often complain that the offender did not receive the maximum in the deal.

It was not surprising to me, therefore when it was made known that one of the accused in the Polar Beer scam was offered and accepted a deal, that the opposition upped arms and proceeded to hurl accusations at the government failing to acknowledge that it is the judiciary that deals with these issues.

The decision to enter into an agreement with one of the accused, to my mind, shows sound judgment and could go a far way in stemming the corruption in the Customs and Trade Administration.

The call for officials from Fidelity Investment Inc. to be prosecuted in the fraud seems to be politically motivated. The evidence suggests that Fidelity Investments Inc engaged the services of an independent Broker to facilitate the importation of its products, how then could one argue that they should be held responsible for the actions of the Broker.

The good that could possibly be achieved through this whole issue could be lost because of the interference of the opposition in the process. It is time that the Opposition stop the hypocrisy! They call for action against corruption and when action is taken they find some reason to criticize.

This has become a pattern over the years, one can remember the issue with the staff of the deeds registry whose contracts were terminated some time ago and several other incidents in the public service.

The corrupt practices at the Customs Department are legendary. Most Guyanese who would have had contact with that agency could relate a tale of unsolicited offers being made by officers of that Department. Why the rush by the opposition to defend or justify the actions of these individuals?
EDWARD SIMON