Khemraj, the Klepto? Fighting for and not against corruption

Old Kai had a hearty laugh to ring in the New Year. In fact, I am still laughing as I remember the AFC New Year statement that ‘it will continue to fight against corruption’ in 2014. In reality it looks like they will ‘continue to fight for corruption,’ given their track record of ‘dubious dealings’, and when one considers the latest travesty meted out upon this nation by an AFC leader.
Just recently this nation witnessed yet again the effects of a dangerous combination of ‘money and arrogance’ with media reports revealing that an East Coast Demerara businessman, through his lawyer, is responsible for holding up construction work on the four lane roadway because he has occupied reserve land which is needed for the road expansion.
Can anyone venture a guess as to the identity of the legal representative of the businessman who moved to the courts against the government project and which has resulted in construction delays costing over 40 million dollars and counting? We are told that it is no other than the AFC’s ‘collateral damage’ leader, Khemraj Ramjattan.
So what we have is one individual, aided by his political connection, holding up a project which will benefit thousands upon thousands of citizens and further accelerate development along this stretch of roadway. In fact, one can even argue that it will mean more business for the individual who operates an auto dealership with the road expansion, and increase in commercial activities. More importantly, the project will make this roadway safer and reduce accidents and loss of lives.
Old Kai can put it very bluntly that here we have the PPP/C Government trying to complete a project which will save lives and the AFC leader doing all he can to delay this project. A classic case of money before principle; but the AFC says it is fighting against corruption. Their brand of ‘fighting against corruption’ is nothing new or surprising for that matter, as we can quickly recall their efforts to attack the Specialty Hospital, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion project, the Berbice River Bridge and the Amaila Falls Hydro Project among others.
But back to this illegal construction on the East Coast of Demerara. As Old Kai had observed for some time now, that there was one glaring irregularity on this property which posed a potential danger to citizens. The law requires any form of construction to be at least five feet away from your boundary line, which is usually marked by a fence; yet at the junction of the main roadway and the access street into the community of Success, a building was constructed, apparently along the boundary or fence line.
This irregularity posed particular difficulty for drivers coming out of the community on to the main road, as the building, which appeared to be right on the edge of the junction, affected a driver’s clear line of sight of oncoming traffic heading from Georgetown. It is still to be established if this building was constructed exactly on the boundary line; but what is clear is that the resort back to the courts by Mr. Ramjattan and his client will quite possibly further delay this project which is critical to Guyana’s ongoing transformation.
Old Kai can only assume that all those affected citizens, as usual, are considered simply ‘collateral damage’ in the ‘eyes’ of Khemraj Ramjattan and the AFC. People are continuing to gradually realize that the AFC can quite possibly mean, All For Corruption and are asking is Khemraj a Klepto?