Transparency

by James McAllister The article, “Questionable Engineers Estimates costing Guyana billion$”, in the April 19th edition of the Kaieteur News, is another attempt by the media to distort and peddle misinformation. Accusations of corruption and incompetence were leveled against engineers. This is not the first time such accusations have been leveled against engineers by people who know little of what ...

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday defended his party’s decision to hire a United States (US) public relations lobbying firm, Mercury Public Affairs, for $34 million to make out a solid case for free and fair elections in Guyana, saying that he was not concerned at all about its blemishes. “All the PPP wants ...

Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes on Monday rejected claims that she breached the Code of Conduct contained in the Integrity Commission Act because she is still the owner of Videomega Productions. Hughes, in a swift reaction to assertions by former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran, said she has already declared her ownership of the private media production company to the ...

by James McAllister The recent public outcry about possible conflict of interest by APNU+AFC Government ministers was an indication of positive things happening in Guyana. The fact that a significant number of the people speaking out are vocal supporters of the government makes it even better. This is a clear indication that Guyanese are not in the mood to allow ...

By GHK Lall It seems as if conflicts of interest are a settled, acceptable way of life here. Though I detect the malicious and unfounded on occasion, there are too many other situations that raise issues of character, ethics, and personal standards. Cumulatively, it is more than ignorance, negligence, or lapse in judgment, much more. I must make one thing ...

Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes’ private business links, as an elected official, have again come under sharp scrutiny, forcing her to state categorically that she has taken a back seat from her company, Videomega Productions. “In May 2015 upon my assumption of the role of Minister of Tourism I relinquished any involvement in the day to day running of ...

Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Guyana, Matthew Langevine says there are increasing suspicious reports of money launderers and drug traffickers piping their dirty monies through money transfer agencies. The FIU head said it has also been discovered that individuals involved in predicate offences tied to drug and human trafficking and money laundering are utilising the services of ...

By GHK Lall The foundation and engine room of any governance mechanism is credibility. The willingness of citizens in their various segments–be they critics, adversaries, cynics, neutrals, even believers–to invest confidence and reliance that integrity and good faith course through officials and processes, as guided by law: respecting of and bowing before the law. Using these as bases, I contend ...

President of the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. (TIGI), Dr. Troy Thomas wants asset declarations by the President and Opposition Leader to the Integrity Commission to be published. “We have discussed at some point that at least the declarations by the President and the Leader of the Opposition should be made public. We can discuss and argue about the others ...

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) dodged questions about how much money was paid for a stage play without possibly going through a procurement process. Sources said as much as GYD$3.5 million was paid to ERC Commissioner Neaz Subhan, but he declined to comment on how much it cost the ERC for the play, “I AM US”, that he wrote in ...