In a compelling address during his ‘Issues in the News’ commentary Tuesday night, Attorney General Anil Nandlall passionately defended the principles of accountability and transparency within the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government, asserting the role it is playing in the ongoing transformation of the country.
His remarks come amid ongoing public scrutiny of the administration’s management of the oil and gas sector, which has drawn both interest and controversy in recent time.
Nandlall emphasised that these principles, grounded in democracy, extend beyond merely holding free and fair elections and noted that it requires a governing that is committed to accountability and transparency. He challenged critics on their claims of corruption and a lack of accountability, saying the facts speaks for itself.
‘A perfect government does not exist. So we understand that there are problems, but what are we doing about it?’ he questioned as he outlined a range of constitutional checks and balances designed to ensure that government actions are scrutinised and held to account.
Since the PPP civic government took office in August 2020, Nandlall noted the operational independence of various key institutions, including the Auditor General’s Office.
This office is responsible for conducting government audits and submitting reports directly to Parliament, which promotes public scrutiny of governmental expenditures.
“This is a system where the parliament, not the government, receives annual reports,” he explained, reinforcing the separation of powers that safeguards democracy.
Central to Nandlall’s defence of government practices was the Natural Resource Fund Act, a legislation designed to manage revenue from the burgeoning oil sector.
He reminded that the act meticulously outlines how funds are to be deposited and withdrawn, ensuring that all transactions are made public and subject to the approval of the National Assembly.
“This law is a cornerstone of our commitment to transparent governance,” he asserted.
In addition to the Natural Resource Fund, Nandlall spoke about the recently enacted local content law aimed at protecting local employment and ensuring that Guyanese benefit from the oil sector.
“This has led to billions in local investments and opportunities,” he noted, highlighting the government’s efforts to create a sustainable economic environment for its citizens.
Addressing public concerns about corruption, Nandlall reaffirmed that the government actively engages in discussions around these issues.
He highlighted Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s outreach efforts across the country, which aim to ensure that local officials understand and adhere to principles of accountability in public contracting.
“We are not turning a blind eye; we are actively monitoring and improving our processes,” he stated.
During a conference at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre earlier on Tuesday, Nandlall described how senior officials from various ministries and state agencies gathered to discuss procurement protocols and responsibilities.
‘He spoke about allegations of corruption. He spoke about family death in contract. He spoke about not aggressively policing contracts. He spoke against restrictive tendering. He spoke about contractors being in violation and engineers not being as vigilant.
‘… he spoke about conflict of interest. He spoke about imposing penalties for shoddy works and terminating contracts where such a situation warrants termination.
‘Why are we doing all of this? If we were not interested in accountable governance and responsible governance, why are we doing all of this if we are one big corrupt cabal, and we encourage nepotism, and we encourage corruption and we encourage graft? Everything that I’ve said to you here is factual.’ Nandlall noted.
In lengthy rebuff of critics, Nandlall did not shy away from pointing fingers at the previous PNC and APNU+AFC administrations, particularly the coalition government that ruled from 2015 to 2020.
He asserted that during that time, transparency was severely lacking and before then under the PNC government as exemplified by the absence of Auditor General reports for over a decade.
“For ten years, there was no oversight on how public funds were spent,” he lamented. He challenged critics to remember that history when discussing the current government’s accountability practices.
He cited numerous instances of financial mismanagement from past administrations, such as the controversial awarding of contracts and the opaque dealings that characterised previous governance.
“These are not mere allegations; they are documented failures of governance that cannot be ignored,” he insisted.
Nandlall expressed hope for the future, reaffirming the government’s commitment to maintaining a transparent and accountable framework for governance.
“We may not be perfect, but we are striving for responsible governance,” he declared.
He reiterated the administration’s ongoing efforts to educate officials on ethical conduct and public procurement processes, underscoring that accountability is a continuous journey rather than a destination.
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