By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – President Donald Ramotar has publicly admitted his Government’s struggles in ensuring accountability and transparency across the country.
He indicated however that his Government will push forward relentlessly to change what he suggested was a culture of unaccountability and ambiguity that had been constructed.
“It is not easy to change and build new cultures,” he said while addressing the opening of the 7th annual National Toshaos Council Meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre on Monday, October 21.
The President’s comments come amid accusation from the Opposition of a lack of accountability and transparency in the Government’s operations.
In outlining his Administration’s efforts in this regard, Ramotar reminded of the annual audits of Government’s accounts, which he said prior to his party taking office more than two decades ago did not exist. This report is sent to the Parliament where it is further scrutinized in the Public Accounts Committee comprising of both Government and Opposition representatives, after which the Ministry of Finance issues a treasury memorandum to correct identified shortcomings.
In the same vein, the Guyanese Leader pointed to the establishment of the many Standing Committees in Parliament to overlook several sectors with a rotation of the chairpersons for both the Government and Opposition.
He also noted the introduction of the public bidding system for all government projects by his Administration and a further public notification when those contracts are awarded.
The Head of State in defending his position said, “I don’t believe there is any single questioned asked that have remained unanswered in the National Assembly.”
He said it was his party – the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) – that also opened Parliament to the media and established the Integrity Commission.
“But even with all these measured there still arises trouble from time to time,” President Ramotar added.
