During the recent NCN so-called “debates” on corruption, the PPP representatives were most belligerent and bellicose in defence of their record. Minister Leslie Ramsammy, however, admitted that there are times when the system would lapse, but quickly emphasized that the Government has put a number of laws and regulations in place to reduce and eliminate these lapses. This, as the average Guyanese knows, is a most farcical statement, and if it wasn’t so serious, most comical as well.
Just take the issue of corruption in the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), which coincidentally (or not) falls under the very Minister Ramsammy. Over two years ago, in mid-2009, Kaieteur News investigated the purchase of a home for G$60M that it was able to link to Lionel Wordsworth, the CEO of the NDIA. Initially, Wordsworth attempted to distance himself on the basis of his wife having used her maiden name to make the purchase. Kaieteur News then proved, via a letter from the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL), that Lionel’s words were worthless. However, in keeping with what we have become accustomed to, and of course, in stark contrast to Minister Ramsammy’s statement, the PPP did nothing, absolutely nothing.
Now fast forward to today. The internal auditors of the NDIA issued a damning report on system lapses and abuse that directly implicated none other than Wordsworth and the Senior Section Engineer (SSE). The report speaks of conflict of interest and sole sourcing of services such as the supply of fuel and the awarding of contracts to relations of senior NDIA operatives, in breach of national procurement procedures. It went on to say that fuel consumption and pump efficiency were inadequately monitored, which if properly done would have assisted in minimising risk exposures and losses. So much for Ramsammy’s assertion the Government has systems in place to reduce corruption.
The report concluded that “These acts of sole sourcing were deliberate, fraudulent and in breach of the procurement act.” It also stated, “It is audit’s opinion that the SSE poorly performed his functions and unethically conspired with the CEO, committing acts of procurement fraud.” The auditors, in their recommendation, submitted that both Wordsworth and the SSE be fired. “the CEO and SSE’s services should be immediately terminated for committing the fraudulent acts and a full investigation of all awarded contracts for 2011 and 2012 be done…The procurement functions performed by the CEO should be relinquished immediately to the Procurement Department for strict adherence with professional procurement guidelines.”
However, Minister Ramsammy took deep umbrage with the report’s recommendation (saying it overstepped) and the fact the report was carbon copied to others, including the Regional Chairman and President, and eventually made it into the media. So, in true Jagdeo/Ramotar PPP style, Ramsammy sent the head auditor on leave, thus shooting the messenger. Instead of thanking the auditor for bring to light fraudulent and corrupt activities, Ramsammy is trying to silence the auditor as much as to say, ‘how dare you disclose thievery.’
This tyranny of the PPP/C government has reached an alarming level. Sending the NDIA auditor on leave for doing his job is the most recent example. Only an authoritarian regime would discipline an employee for revealing the truth. It reeks of bullyism and victimisation and is clearly designed to send a warning to all other employees who dare to speak out against government corruption and fraud.
Comments are closed