Dear Editor
PLEASE allow me some space to ask for some action to be taken on behalf of the Guyanese people by this APNU+AFC Government. I have read in the papers this last week several reports of continued corrupt practices in various government ministries. As a miner, I am mostly concerned about the Ministry of Natural Resources, but as a Guyanese, I am very concerned about the ocean of corruption we are sinking under.Several allegations have emanated from the Ministry of Natural Resources revealing irregularities at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). This administration has audits, fraudulent documents, suspicious data, conflicting testimonies and public accusations of corrupt practices.
We hear about bribes and the manipulation of data. We hear that the Land Management Unit has been implicated in several corrupt activities, yet there has been no shake up. We hear that the GGMC has transferred the Gold Board at Charity to a private company owned by GGDMA members, nobody knows under what terms. We hear that the same people implicated in gold-smuggling are now the people receiving licences to buy and sell gold through the GGMC. The newspapers are filled with allegations of various “runnings” by the GGMC and the GGDMA members, yet we hear of no action by the Minister of Natural Resources.
The Minister of Natural Resources famously stated that the ‘free for all’ days are over in the mining industry. But what actions has he taken. What has he done to stop this corruption? Sadly, it has been business as usual at the GGMC and the corruption continues.
We agree that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and the work of prosecuting these crimes falls on the police. But the minister in charge of the departments should at least do something. At the least they should suspend those accused until the criminal probe is completed. It is reported that these corrupt practices are still occurring, which is to be expected because it is the same people in the same positions.
We see where a crook robbed a tourist during the Jubilee week festivities he was swiftly hunted down and arrested and brought before the courts. The value of his crime was less than $20,000. Yet over a hundred billion taxpayers dollars have disappeared from various government ministries, more than $100,000,000,000 and no one has been arrested, brought to court or has even been suspended from their post.
Where is the change we voted for in May 2015 Mr. President? Why spend all this money on audits if no action is to be taken? Please Mr. President, implore your ministers to do something. Take some action, at the least, clean house. The reports of malfeasance and fraud in most if not all government ministries are too much. You must do something! Please we beg you!
It was reported during the last administration that Guyana was the most corrupt country in the Caribbean and one of the most corrupt in the world. The various audits have proven this fact. The Government ran for office vowing to end such corruption. The people of Guyana voted for their agenda. People were heartened when they decided to audit the various departments and were not surprised to see the various schemes employed by the previous administration, their supporters, their friends and families to enrich themselves. Though the scale and the creativity were shocking, it is as if they constantly studied new schemes to rip off the country. How long must the Guyanese people wait for action, shall this government act or must the people of Guyana wait on another change of Government before Guyana loses its place as the most corrupt country in the Caribbean and one of the most corrupt countries in the world?
Regards
Very Concerned Citizen