THE self-styled crusader against corruption, Glenn Lall, was himself exposed by Wikileaks as being one of the most corrupt individuals living in Guyana; and this was from a report emanating from the great USA diplomatic envoys’ observations and investigations.

As Lall’s business enterprises come under scrutiny following damaging exposés of alleged fraudulent practices, he is seemingly attempting to extricate himself from the threat of real jail time for his alleged forays in the world of criminality through threats and blackmail of key players in the administrative system; and he is using his newspaper to solicit support from the public at large.
The adage “Hand wash hand make hand come clean” has seen opposition leaders — with special focus on Joseph Harmon of the PNC/APNU, and Khemraj Ramjattan of the AFC, both obviously representing their respective political parties as spokespersons — resoundingly condemning the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for daring to audit the financial affairs of Glenn Lall’s business holdings after several alleged criminal activities came to light recently. This is subsequent to his exposure for electricity theft and a GPL transformer being found in a place to which he was linked, among other damaging exposes by US envoys through Wikileaks, none of which resulted in prosecution.
There are several tax fraud cases currently in court, as well as those still under investigation that, if successfully prosecuted, could send Glenn Lall to prison. It has also been reported that he is demanding that the GRA abandon an audit of the Kaieteur News holding company. Questions are being asked as to how Lall was able to pay in cash US dollars in the USA for extensive properties bought in Guyana. Lall may also be asked about alleged US currency bank accounts in known tax havens.
Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur has confirmed that Lall threatened him when the remigrant scam involving Lall first surfaced. “Lall called me from an overseas number and threatened to expose me; he threatened to deal with me in a matter, as if I’m a thief. He said he’s going to do this because I am using my office to deal with the matters I normally deal with. He threatened to use his newspaper to expose me; I don’t know what wrong I am doing. If I am trying to do the Government’s work, I don’t know why people should be upset. If they are doing wrong things, they should be subject to the laws as well,” Sattaur reportedly said.
Lall and his wife were recently sued by acting Town Clerk of the Mayor and City Council, Carol Sooba, for $5.7M for unpaid rates and taxes in relation to their property on Saffon Street. Lall has also been implicated in evading taxes on the importation of printing ink allegedly packaged as a Caribbean Community (CariCom) product, which enjoys duty-free concessions under the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Upon closer inspection, however, it was reportedly found that the origin of the inks were from overseas, thereby in breach of the Treaty.
Glenn Lall has used his alleged dishonestly-acquired publication — an accusation by the first publisher of the ‘Kaieteur News’, Shaun Samaroo, who nearly lost his father’s home which he had mortgaged to accrue funds to produce the “Kaieteur Weekend World”, forerunner to the “Kaieteur News” — as a weapon to destroy his perceived enemies, or the enemies of his advertisers or his political affiliates; or anyone who would offend in any way those who substantially contribute to his several wealth-creational endeavours.
Despite the fact that he has been caught stealing millions of dollars worth of electricity over an extended period; and been alleged, through revelations by the USA, to have been involved in human trafficking — a very serious crime with dire legal implications and consequences — Glenn Lall has never been prosecuted.
This newspaper also reported that Lall has been fingered in a remigrant duty-free concession scam that the GRA is currently investigating, which, according to Commissioner-General, Mr. Kurshid Sattaur, represents over $100M in tax evasions.
Were the Brijnanans among the rare successes of Lall’s human trafficking enterprise, as reported by the USA envoys and revealed by Wikileaks? And were Lall’s alleged tax evasions aided and abetted by the Brijnanan’s son, Sankar, an employee of GRA who has been implicated in the vehicle scam, as part of the payback incentive?
If this is the case, then it is apparent that these recent discoveries may be merely the tip of the iceberg; and it is incumbent upon the GRA to dig deep and investigate other probable instances of tax evasion by Lall, and prosecute him, as they would any criminal.
Most Guyanese businessmen had to circumnavigate some precarious paths and circuitous routes to reach the heights they did. Some did it ethically; but many did various clandestine things to achieve their millionaire status. Today, some borderline and even real criminals are pointing fingers at others. From selling shoes out of suitcases, Glenn Lall has become one of the richest men in Guyana; and the Wikileaks exposé has linked him to back-tracking, using devious ploys against other businessmen; for instance, linking “Buddy” Shivraj and other businessmen to the drug trade in an attempt to either divert international attention and scrutiny away from himself, and establish his credentials as an ethical person with the diplomatic and other influential bodies, so that he does not come under their radar as a person of interest.
He is still using his newspaper to destroy Government officials and initiatives in efforts to support opposition parties, as well as demolishing business rivals -– either his or those of his advertisers — for gain, although one US official described his publication as a “muckraking newspaper.”
In view of the foregoing, it is highly believable that Lall, the self-styled fighter against corruption, would stop at nothing to halt investigations and prosecution that would expose and punish him, if he is found guilty of the accusations being currently leveled against him and his business enterprises.
However much Glenn Lall tries to re-invent himself, regardless of whether the Guyanese who know the real Glenn Lall choose to expose him, Canavan has done so by stating unequivocally that he has a sketchy past; has a rumoured involvement in alien smuggling; has links to the underworld; and that he runs a muckraking newspaper.
The opposition leaders who are attempting to subvert the course of justice by supporting Lall are fighting tooth and nail to form the next government in Guyana. These lawyers who have consistently shown no respect for the law — casting aside the decisions of the court like so much flotsam, are aspiring to lead this nation; but down what path? What pathways could leaders who have no respect for the law, and support corrupt practices, carve for any nation? Political leaders who support corrupt practices are indicating the governance they will practise if they are ever elected to run this country. But Guyanese need not conjecture; their past leadership and our history is proof of their intended agendas and intentions. Glenn Lall should have heeded the Guyanese adage, “Wha sweeten goat mouth…”