OMAR Shariff, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Presidency, has been sent on leave to facilitate an investigation into his alleged extraordinary accumulation of wealth, which includes several properties and billions of dollars in the banks.The story of Shariff is among the too many this society has heard of, or know about, happening with public officials entrusted with the people’s confidence to serve them and manage their affairs, and it is not harsh to say that Guyana has sunk into the cesspool of corruption. With the Transparency International Perception Index ranking this country the most corrupt in the English-speaking Caribbean, much work has to be done to remove this tainted image. In the process of cleaning the Augean stables, none — once suspected — should be above being investigated; and to wherever or whomever the trail leads, the investigation must follow, and those culpable should be held to account.
Absolutely no public official, elected and appointed — those who served and those who are serving — should escape the arms of the law if found culpable. It is disgusting that public office has become the platform to enrich oneself at the expense of the people; or, as some would say, a ‘gravy train.’
That Shariff has been sent on leave to facilitate the investigation is a positive sign, but even as he has been so sent, some who have abused public office for personal gain are still continuing to hold office, which constitutes an insult to the people. Two cases before the court that readily come to mind are those of present Member of Parliament and former Minister of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Westford; and Carvil Duncan, who holds constitutional offices on the Public Service Commission.
In a regular society, or, rather, in a society wherein officials see public service as being in service to the people and not as opportunity for self-aggrandisement, out of respect for the people, officials would do the decent thing and remove themselves from office, at least until the issues are resolved. But this doesn’t happen in Guyana, where persons seemingly dare the society to have them removed. Also, it is not surprising to see such persons actually engaged in audacious efforts to exculpate themselves from being held to account, hiding behind constitutional and other legal technicalities.
This society must develop high intolerance for unethical behaviour from public officials, elected or appointed, irrespective of association. Illicit behaviours rob a society of its integrity and create unpleasant situations wherein citizens, more particularly when they travel abroad, are exposed to all sorts of negative stereotypes.
Corruption is a human rights’ violation of Government, given that the State’s resources are being wasted, siphoned off when they could have been directed to providing or improving services for the people. And this is a primary reason why this publication has editorialised often on the need to establish the Public Procurement Commission, which should be able to significantly minimise, if not altogether eradicate, this scourge.
On the matter of integrity, it is encouraging to hear Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, as First Vice President, address this matter. He has said that Government’s Code of Conduct would be incorporated into the Integrity Act, and a draft is before the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. This is welcome news; and it is hoped that this law would not only be iron-clad, but strident enough — including in its provision of severe penalties -– to cause public officials, elected and appointed, to think more than twice before engaging in conduct that brings disrepute to the office they hold, and insult the people who have reposed confidence in them.
Things must change in this society in regard to the welfare and well-being of the people, and change must be for the better. The case of Shariff is one of many, and it is hoped that the authorities would not rest or relent until every last one who has betrayed the public’s trust is held to account.
Guyanese must feel free to move about without having to hear how corrupt the society is, and having to prove they are not of the group who, for their own aggrandisement, doesn’t care how besmirched the country’s character is, or how much degradation the average citizen endures.
While, like any other, this country has experienced economic downturns and, in some instances, shortages of items, the scale of corruption and protection of the corrupt that this country has experienced within recent times is unprecedented, and is a crying shame. Every Guyanese must work to rid the society of corruption, and those without integrity from public office.
