Leave Mr Christie alone

RAULSTON NEMBHARD

Saturday, July 17, 2010

THERE is no doubt in the thought processes of any Jamaican who wishes to see an end to public sector corruption that Mr Greg Christie, the contractor general, is doing an excellent job. His contract will expire in 2012 and already there is concern as to whether he should be retained, or worse, if he will be allowed to serve out his first term in office.

This column has had reason to laud the work of Mr Christie. There is no public servant, perhaps with the exception of Danville Walker, who has approached his work with more fixity of purpose, determination and fearlessness than Mr Christie has done. Fearlessness, because it is a well-known fact that public servants have been killed for standing up to corruption as he has sought to do. Witness the brutal slaying of Mr Ted Ogilvie, permanent secretary in the ministry of construction during the 1970s, when he sought to investigate the corruption that was taking place in the McGregor Gully project.

I am not surprised that the work of Mr Christie should make politicians uncomfortable. The truth is that politicians do not like to be held accountable, to be scrutinised or to be asked embarrassing questions. Once they assume power, politicians have a way of developing a dictatorial mindset as they become monarchs of all they survey. In the Jamaican context, they only have to become ministers of government to be infected with the disease that makes them believe they are better than other people; no one can tell them what to do and they can see better than any Jamaican because of the lofty perch from which they sit.

Despite their eloquent espousal of democratic values, they betray dictatorial proclivities that often cause them to operate in ways that are inimical to the interests of the people they have been briefly elected to serve. Part of this dictatorial mindset is demonstrated in their resentment of any probe of their activities by anyone; even by bodies or agencies that they themselves have been forced to institute and which should function to get them to account for their conduct of the people's business. Part of this discomfort and perhaps resentment is manifested in a statement attributable to Mr Daryl Vaz, minister of information.

He is reported in the Observer to have said that the potency of some remarks by the contractor general had scared many competent individuals from the public sector. The question to be asked is, what did these "competent individuals" have to hide that they were not willing to be subjected to the tight scrutiny of the OCG? If they are as competent as one is being made to believe, they would have as one of the hallmarks of competency a strong adherence to transparency and probity in carrying out of their duties. No one who is committed to such values should have any fear of scrutiny from any quarter. In hindsight, it might have been a good thing that such persons were scared off as they might not have been fit and proper persons to serve.

The minister's ire is no doubt a result of Mr Christie's announcement that he would probe the recently announced LNG contract that the ministry of energy has entered into with some foreign entities. One senses that there is some peeve on the part of the government that the CG's office would want to look at this. Perhaps they feel that it is outside of his purview. But the Contractor General legislation gives the CG the power to investigate all government contracts, especially of such magnitude. If the principals to these contracts, including the government, should fear independent scrutiny, then this is all the more reason that a fair and fearless body such as the OCG should investigate it. We have nothing to lose if the contract is fair and impartial and will redound to the benefit of the Jamaican people.

Mr Bunting of the Opposition is reported to have remarked about some "over-zealousness" on the part of the contractor-general in carrying out his duties. For my part, I would rather see the CG overreaching in carrying out his functions than under-reaching and thus allowing corruption to go unchecked. If he overreaches we know that he is doing so in good faith and without favour to anyone. As a human being subject to fallibility, he can be forgiven if he oversteps his bounds at times. Given the history and pervasive nature of corruption in Jamaica, he should be forgiven even moreso.

This column would urge continued strong support for Mr Christie as he carries out his duties. As Jamaicans we have nothing to lose when he keeps the powerful under scrutiny. If public servants, including politicians, have nothing to fear, they should give the OCG their full support as well, and give him more resources to carry out his job effectively.

Mr Christie has said categorically that he will not resile from doing the work he was appointed to do: "I would like to categorically state, without any reservation, that I have absolutely no intention whatsoever of discharging my statutory mandate and responsibilities in a manner which suits the desires or dictates of any other person, official or entity, irrespective of who that person, official or entity may be. While I will at all times do so fairly, impartially and responsibly, it must also be clearly understood that I will also, at all times, do so forthrightly and vigorously and without fear and without favour, and without being subjected to the countermanding dictates of any other person except a Court of Law." All well-thinking Jamaicans say "Hurrah" to you, Mr Christie. We are sick and tired of the corruption of our national life. Keep up the good work, you have the unqualified support of the majority of the Jamaican people.

stead6655@aol.com

www.drraulston.com

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GCT to go down, white rum prices going up

Leave Mr Christie alone