… Gaskin backs charges against former ministers

THE government is doing the right thing to have the designated agencies investigate and charge any person who is in contravention of the law, whether it is a politician or commoner.

Political commentator and former Presidential Adviser, Ramon Gaskin, weighed in on what is now being described as a growing “hostile and confrontational climate” as cases and charges are increasing against former government officials for alleged malpractice in office.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has addressed the current occurrences, expressing fear that the clash of parliamentary parties is affecting investor confidence and making Guyana a risky investment location. Gaskin noted, however, that while some of the PSC’s concerns could be genuine, the body has no ethical ground from which it could speak.

In his invited comment, Gaskin indicated that over the years, some of the body’s members have been involved in questionable situations. He said, “They (PSC) are not credible,” and any conversation they have with the political parties would have to do with encouraging the sides to work together since the court cases are under judicial consideration and cannot be discussed publicly.

The Russia-trained lawyer said, “It is whether they (PSC) have the moral authority to speak on these matters; they don’t.” The PSC grew in strength and prominence under the PPP administration which championed itself for economic growth through investment during its tenure. It was initially, suspicions of corruption claimed by the-then opposition that had seen them campaign ahead of the 2015 elections, to investigate and charge former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) members found to be in breach of the law.

The investigations, according to the government, have amounted to hundreds of cases. It was during these investigations also that former government ministers, officials, local business people and others were seen benefitting from “questionable” transactions conducted under the last government.

Gaskin acknowledged that chairman of the PSC and National Hardware owner, Eddy Boyer was one of those who benefitted from one of the alleged illegal transactions that landed the former Finance Minister Ashni Singh and then NICIL CEO Winston Brassington before the court.

It is alleged that Boyer, who is said to be close to the former government, has received prime state land below market value while other companies were made to pay extraordinarily more for property in the same location. Gaskin opined that such scenarios have tainted the authenticity of the entire body, but does not prevent them from having an opinion.

“The government has every right to investigate any person in Guyana who steals state property. They have the right to investigate and place them before the court,” Gaskin charged.

He said that all Guyanese must be subjected to this treatment especially where the politicians are involved. Despite his belief that handcuffing the accused officials was done to embarrass them when they appeared before the court, Gaskin said it must be seen as a “lesson to all” that eventually their deeds do catch up with them.

Gaskin even opined that where former President Bharrat Jagdeo had claimed that questionable transactions were decided on by full Cabinet, they all should have been charged since there can be “no impunity for any illegal conduct”.