TO ignore the mixed emotions by the man in the street to the recent invitations, arrests, and voluntary submissions to the State Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) by those who acquired properties at Sparendaam (Pradoville 2) is not to have the finger on the pulse of the people.

To say Guyanese have grown tired of corruption would not be an understatement. At the same time it cannot be ignored that among the fed-up are those who demonstrate intolerance when it is happening to the ‘other side’ but would ignore and even defend it when it is happening on their side.

There is no denying there remains much work to be done where the society, if not as a whole, at least a vocal majority can condemn and speak out against abuses of the state’s resources, disregard for laws and transgressing of rights, irrespective of who stands to gain or is affected. Where strong civil society, political independence, or integrity would inform such reactions in other societies, Guyana remains behind. Though some are tempted to think small societies are pre-disposed to poor governance they ignore smaller societies like Barbados and The Bahamas.

Barbados is considered the third richest in the Americas, coming after Canada, with the United States leading the way. Transparency International ranks The Bahamas as the least corrupt country in the Caribbean. The population size in the former is 285,744 and the latter 397,164. Both societies do not have the resources Guyana, has neither the landmass per population index. What distinguishes them and some others in the region as model societies as against ours is respect for and enforcement of laws, strong institutions, dignity public office is expected to carry and a vocal and uncompromising civil society.

It is not unfair to say Guyana has been on the slippery slope for years and the situation begs urgent attention. As citizens there can be no pride when your country has been ranked the most corrupt in the English-speaking Caribbean and living in a land of plenty yet there is so much want. Though thankfully positive movement was made in eliminating corruption in 2016 according to Transparency, there remains distance to cover where respectability is gained. In the area of want, absent structured and sustained developmental programmes and strong institutions, corruption will continue to suffocate the society.

When this Government entered office in May 2015 on the promise to clean the Augean stables, a society grown tired of corruption welcomed the change. Some called for this to happen immediately, others wonder why recommendations to pursue criminal charges in the Forensic Audits were not forthcoming, some were allowed to escape the arms of the law without being charged, cases were thrown out of the court due to poor prosecution, some kept hope alive that better will come, as others come to think change represented exchange.

As government of itself has engaged in actions the society rejected, the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic made allegations of corruption and the Leader of the Opposition in February said that in 21 months the government has been involved in 26 scandals as it remained silent, and the cloud of hopelessness hovers over. Amidst this the voices of resignation and those who say ‘not my vote in 2020’ became louder. That there exists scepticism about government and governance few can deny. While it is fair to say the society has perked up with the investigation, a people that have grown wary are still questioning whether anything will happen beyond the much hyped interviews. And frankly this is not the right place for a country to be because citizens must have confidence that their institutions will work for the benefit of all. People will therefore be watching how this issue unfolds since there exists strong views that the time has come for those who seek public office on the promise to serve the people to stop serving themselves.

Something went awry when persons have come to see public service as avenues to abuse the state’s resources and enrich themselves. Something has to be wrong with such thinking and acceptance of it by the people, irrespective of support or non-support for the government of the day. Corruption affects everyone, including the corrupt, because as corrupt as they are, they too cannot escape the social ills and poor social services and infrastructures that corruption spawns. Time will tell if Pardoville 2 will signal to every public officer that the day of reckoning has come.