Something worth pondering as we 'fly the gate'

Diane Abbott

Sunday, December 04, 2011

As Jamaica hurtles towards a Yuletide general election, corruption is a major topic. Transparency International has published its annual league table of corrupt countries and Jamaica is near the bottom of the list at 86.

You could argue that levels of corruption broadly indicate the prosperity of a country, which is why North America and Europe are generally considered less corrupt than Africa. But little Barbados manages to be ranked a respectable 16 in the index, even edging above the United States, the United Kingdom and France. So Jamaican politicians might well contemplate why they are doing so poorly compared to a fellow Caribbean country.

And then there is the unfolding scandal of the roads programme. Patrick Wong, the CEO of the National Works Agency, resigned earlier this month after the auditor general issued a report raising concerns about the project, including the apparent use of $102 million from the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) to renovate the agency's headquarters with new air-conditioning units and decorative tiles. This was done without the approval of the island's contracts commission.

The transport ministry's permanent secretary was put on leave in order to facilitate the investigation into the troubled infrastructure programme and the National Works Agency. And now one of the titans of the JLP, Mike Henry, has been forced out of ministerial office because of alleged irregularities in the US$400 million programme to rehabilitate roads.

Poor countries pay a high price for corruption. It is drag on economic growth and discourages investors. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says: "As a result of corruption, private mansions are being built instead of bridges; swimming pools are dug instead of irrigation systems; funds destined to run hospitals and buy medicines find their way into the pockets of corrupt officials; economic growth is held back; and public trust in government is undermined."

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said: "Corruption debases democracy, undermines the rule of law, distorts markets, stifles economic growth, and denies many their rightful share of economic resources or life-saving aid."

The suspicion that much aid money is squandered through corruption is one of the biggest arguments here in Britain against giving aid to Third World countries.

Above all, corruption corrodes the whole political process. The notion that men and women only go into politics to enrich themselves leads ordinary people to be less willing to take part in politics, less willing to vote, and ultimately to despise all politicians. It is worth noting that this is just as true in Britain and America as it is in Jamaica.

And corruption has never been higher up the international agenda. The chair of Transparency International says: "This year we have seen corruption on protestors' banners be they rich or poor. Whether in a Europe hit by debt crisis or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government."

Although Jamaica scores poorly on the international league table of corruption, it has a tradition of independent and conscientious public servants. The Office of the Contractor General has opened a probe into what it described as "glaring irregularities" by the National Works Agency in purchasing US$720,000 worth of office furniture from funds allocated to the Palisadoes Road shoreline upgrading project.

In the face of a worldwide financial crisis, Jamaica has to look within itself and weigh up potential assets. One tremendous asset would be a political process free of corruption. As Jamaica's politicians prepare to "fly the gate" that is something worth pondering.

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GCT to go down, white rum prices going up

Something worth pondering as we 'fly the gate'