It is unbelievable that political leaders, inclusive of their foot soldiers, of the political opposition can continue to daily present the totally dishonest narrative of witch-hunting of former senior officials of their administration, because of political motives, as they are charged and placed before the courts accused of criminal theft and other misdemeanors against the State.

It is astonishing to say the least, but at best devious with the egregious intent of hoodwinking their constituents into believing that with a change of government, an orchestrated plan of political persecution against Indo-Guyanese is underway. But this has never been the case; and far from the truth. In fact, many of the former PPP/C friends, cronies, et al, are all too aware as to the plunder of the resources of the state, for they would have benefitted from the criminal proceeds.

But for leaders, especially former presidents, to peddle such confounded lies in the face of audit evidence speaks as to their highly dubious, moral vision of leadership and claim of love for country. They cannot be patriots, for the latter category is not known to subject their motherland to such wanton criminal activity.

It is not a case of being in a state of being in denial because of a mental defect. Absolutely not. Instead, it is an instance of naked dishonesty, blatant and disdainful disregard for their country and people, coupled with an immoral understanding of the use of tax payers’ money and other resources for socio-economic development. How can they claim love for country and all that such should mean, while at the same time mounting scurrilous attacks against the government for bringing legal action against those involved in violations against the State?

This is not about lip service to combat the cancer and scourge of corruption, as the opposition did some time ago when Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo spoke about his position relative to those who have been found to be involved in any such activity. His entire collective response has been one of continuous opposition and attacks on the government, and the designated investigative agencies for their task of recovering stolen assets; even going as far as to brand an agency head as “geriatric”.

Our country’s socio-morals have been badly corrupted, giving birth to a serious distortion and blurring of the lines between right and wrong. So pervasive has it become, that virtually every fortnight the current coalition administration has been mounting anti-corruption seminars, both in the city and in other parts of Guyana, in seeking to educate public servants about the evil that is corruption, and the crippling damage that it does to citizens and their communities that are denied potable water, better roads, health centres, street illumination, and unclogged waterways, just to name some of the amenities that are so vital for habitable daily living in every community.

It is timely, too, that there has been a recent IDB – CDB seminar, the first in a reported planned series, that seeks to promote integrity with regards Caribbean Development Bank(CDB) and the Inter-American Development Bank(IDB) development financing interventions in each institution’s respective borrowing member countries. This clearly points to a concerted effort of these two important financiers of many of Guyana’s socio-economic projects over the decades, of raising awareness as to tighter scrutiny and management of their funds, whether grants or loans. After all, no lending institution would be comfortable, much less be happy, if their funds garnered from other member states’ tax payers are misappropriated.

But battling endemic corruption, whether in awareness seminars or assembling competent expertise, inclusive of attorneys to prepare prosecution comes at a cost; the latter fact clearly illustrated by a high functionary of SARA.

It is an investment that is worth every dollar, since it is aimed at expunging the most dangerous and deadly form of criminal anti-development that can ever be inflicted on any state. There must be no relent; the battle against corruption and corrupt officials must be relentless.