EVIDENCE is unfolding daily that corruption had been a feature of government and had robbed this nation of an enormous amount of money that could have been invested into other projects or seen better quality in projects that had been completed.This is a dark side of this nation’s history; and from it, exposure must not only be had and lessons learnt, but that feature must never be repeated, and perpetrators must have their day in court.

Rarely has a day gone by in which corruption has not been reported, seen or heard. This is disgusting; is an unacceptable way to treat the nation’s resources, wealth and citizens; and must be ruthlessly stamped out. The cost of corrupt practices has robbed our children of quality education; workers of better pay; retirees of better pensions; and the nation of quality social services and improved public infrastructure.

Justice must be served, and Guyana must be a nation in which corruption is not only frowned upon, but violators must be assured that the long arm of the law will get them and deal condignly with them.

It ought to be said that a change in government does not necessarily translate to an end in corrupt practices; neither does it mean that new faces will not be prone to, or be involved in, corrupt practices. Where corruption is endemic, as in Guyana’s case, save for the complete overhauling and weeding out of personnel, players of this despicable conduct will continue to employ trusted old methods, or find new methods to continue employing their despicable ways, where stronger accountability systems are absent and perpetrators are not held to account.

Corruption, according to the United Nations, is a human rights’ violation perpetuated by a government on its people. That body says the consequences of corrupt governance are multiple, and affect all human rights —- civil, political, economic, social and cultural; as well as the right to development.

Bringing justice to the society for corrupt practices can also happen after the fact, and here is where the Auditor General’s Reports, recently commissioned audits as have been done at NICIL, and the work of the State Assets Recovery Unit are vital.

It is encouraging to see efforts are being made to unveil or expose what is probably this nation’s worst kept secret. And while there continue to be denials of corrupt practices and cocksure calls for evidence — even as evidence abounds in broad daylight — accountability must be the key word in dealing with this scourge. Citizens have to vest confidence in the system, knowing that these corrupt revelations are not mere exposés, and that the culpable will be held accountable.

The people who are most affected by corrupt practices are neither the well-off nor the politically connected, but are the ordinary men and women who have to send their children to public schools; access government-run healthcare facilities; earn a fixed income; rely on water from the tap, electricity from the national grid, and the police force for protection. These citizens need a judicial system that will work for them by upholding the laws, not only for them but also for the well-connected. And this demographic is the majority in society.

Guyana has to emerge from its sordid reputation as the most corrupt English-speaking country in the Caribbean Community, according to the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index of 2014. This is a scourge which has embarrassed average Guyanese and which former governmental officials have sought to downplay and deny. It will tarnish the country’s image, impede development, and increase flight of scarce human capital.

Efforts to stem and reverse this tide are hinged on a corruption-free environment in a country in which a significant amount of its skilled and professional workers and approximately 80 percent of its university graduates are migrating.
Nobody wants to stay in a country where basic social services and public infrastructure are in deplorable condition; where the judicial system does not hold all equal before the law; and where a payday is more a day of pain, given the expenses that have to be honoured. Even as these push factors are noted, important staying factors are also present.

Consequently, ethics must be restored to public service and be a matter of everyday practice by public officials. Public watchdog bodies and personnel must be given requisite tools to supplement muscle to get the job done; there must be intolerance for the proverbial square pegs in round holes; and the constitutionally required independent judicature must see resources being channeled for its strengthening. Corruption is everybody’s business, since it negatively impacts lives and livelihoods; and, as such, everyone must be a crusader against it. The society must reach a place where, when persons hear something that does not confirm to what sounds or looks right, they report it; and enabling systems must be put in place to guarantee persons the privacy to report corrupt practices.