VIGILANT Political Action Committee (VPAC) leader Dorwain Bess has questioned whether Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s continued criticism of the Government is driven by concerns over corruption or by a personal fallout with the administration.
Bess, while commenting on recent allegations involving President Dr. Irfaan Ali and persons connected to his administration, said political leaders must move away from personal disputes and focus on investigating allegations of wrongdoing that affect the country.
He also cautioned against assuming that individuals are involved in corruption solely because of their relationship with senior government officials.
Bess said he had initially planned to publicly criticise the President over allegations surrounding his brother’s connection to a company.
However, after reviewing documents, he said he found that the President’s brother does not own any shares in the company but is instead an employee.
“We now have to assume because of his relationship. But there’s evidence showing the President’s brother doesn’t even own one share in this company. He’s merely an employee,” Bess pointed out.
Sigma Engineers said Aqtar Ali is engaged by its Guyana operations as a senior technical consultant, but is neither a director nor shareholder of the company.
Bess comments also extended to Mohamed, whom he accused of potentially having a personal grievance with the government following an alleged loss of access to opportunities or benefits he previously enjoyed.
Bess questioned whether Mohamed’s decision to highlight alleged corruption was motivated by a genuine concern for the public or by his falling out with those now in Government.
He further challenged Mohamed over his reluctance to work with other members of the Opposition, suggesting that divisions within the political opposition could undermine efforts to challenge the government.
Bess questioned why Mohamed would not work more closely with other Opposition figures if the objective was to remove the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) from office.
“Are you that much of a narcissist?” Bess asked, while acknowledging that his criticism did not necessarily mean he would be unwilling to work with Mohamed in the future.
He argued that the Opposition’s focus should be on the wider concerns affecting Guyanese rather than personal disputes between political figures.
Bess said previous administrations had also faced allegations of corruption and pointed to controversies surrounding the former Government, including claims involving funds associated with Durban Park and other projects.
He stressed, however, that his criticism was not intended to defend the current administration.
“I’m not here to defend the government at all, because there isn’t no one here calling the government out more than me,” Bess said.
Instead, he argued that continuing to debate which political figure or administration is more corrupt does little to address the problems confronting ordinary citizens.
“The point is, while we are pointing who is more corrupt than who, we are leaving the people to suffer,” he said.
Bess said allegations involving public officials and politically connected individuals should be subjected to proper scrutiny and investigation, regardless of which political side is implicated.
His comments come amid an increasingly contentious political environment, with Mohamed and other Opposition figures continuing to level allegations of wrongdoing against the government and its officials.
Bess said the Opposition must ultimately demonstrate that its efforts are driven by a genuine desire to improve conditions for citizens rather than personal grievances or political rivalries.
He also questioned whether Mohamed’s current stance represented a genuine commitment to exposing corruption or was linked to his alleged exclusion from relationships or arrangements that previously benefited him.
“You never called them corrupt when you were benefiting from the corruption,” Bess alleged. “You never highlighted corruption. You never stopped to see the communities that are suffering.”
Bess also questioned allegations that Mohamed was overpaid $200 million under a contract he secured from the government, stating the matter should be properly investigated rather than becoming part of a political tit-for-tat.
Bess said the central question was whether the allegations were being raised because of concern for the country or because the individuals making them were no longer benefiting from the system they now criticise.
“Are you actually exposing it because you care or you’re exposing it because you’re cut out?” he asked.
