–at anti-corruption seminar in Bartica
MINISTER of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General (AG) Basil Williams, has reiterated the government’s commitment to striking a blow against corruption in Guyana.
He made the remark during the sixth public anti-corruption sensitisation seminar that the Attorney-General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs hosted at the Palm Springs Hotel Conference Room in Bartica on Friday.
These seminars sensitise and inform a wide cross-section of stakeholders of their roles and responsibilities in the fight against corruption in public office. This series of sensitisation seminars are an important aspect of the government’s policy to protect the state’s assets and forms part of a comprehensive response to the elimination of corruption in our society.
“Where there is corruption there is poverty. Government and state employees need to understand the importance of fighting against corruption. We are committed, prepared and ready to ensure that everyone is aware of their role, so we can together, as a country, combat corruption,” Mr. Williams said.
He also explained that this initiative was birthed some years ago, when the President of Guyana, His Excellency David Granger signed on with the United Nations on the Anti-Corruption Agreement. The President has since then delegated the responsibility to the AG to educate the people of Guyana in this regard.
HOW IT WORKS
The anti-corruption effort is guided by the State Asset Recovery Act. The purpose of this Act is to rid the society of corrupt and wrongful use of state property and to preserve state assets and assets of the people in Guyana.
The Act conforms to Guyana’s constitution and no law of the country is infringed. The State Asset Recovery Act steers the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA), which is the agency responsible to recover state assets and properties obtained through unlawful conduct.
CEO of SARA, Mr Aubrey Heath-Retemyer explained that the agency’s aim is not to punish those involved, but to recover state assets that were taken unlawfully. He also shared that over the past years, Guyana has lost hundreds of billions of dollars to corruption. Particularly in the areas of Procurement Fraud, Illicit Capital Flight and Under Ground Economy, with moveable assets, fixed assets, land, money and gold being the targets of the corruption.
With the implementation of the State Asset Recovery Act, the country is expected to experience reduced corruption, increased transparency within government agencies and a momentous boost in the economy.
WHISTLEBLOWER ACT
Protection is granted to anyone coming forward with information about any misconduct in public office that will cause any loss of state assets, or revenue under the Protected Disclosures (Whistleblower) Act and the Witness Protection Act.
Regional Chairman of Region Seven, Mr. Gordon Bradford, expressed that this is a new, timely experience for the region, but indicated that they are thirsty for knowledge on how they can combat the issue of corruption. “Corruption is like a cancer that eats away on society. We need a corruption-free country and what we have learnt here today will be disseminated to everyone we meet to ensure that we fight this issue together as a region,” Mr. Bradford said.
The Anti-Corruption Act was also endorsed by Mayor of the town, Mr. Gifford Marshall and the Regional Executive Officer of Region Seven, Mr. Roderick Edinboro.
Presentations at the seminar covered the State Assets Recovery Act 2017, the Protected Disclosure (Whistle-blower) Act 2017, the Witness Protection Act 2017 and the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01. It was well attended and the attendees were given the opportunity to air their views and get clarity on the subject matters.
This sensitisation seminar was done in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council of Region Seven, with the aim of restoring society and making life the way it ought to be.
Persons were encouraged to “blow the whistle,” so that corruption can be stamped out.
