Barbara Gloudon

THIS HAS BEEN a week of weeks, my friend. So, as the meeting is called to order, I urge you to pay attention as the roll is called.

. One bank account's confidentiality invaded

. One whistle-blower's identity unconfirmed

. One politician out of work

. One politician wiping egg off his face

. One prime minister severely embarrassed

. One Dutch oil trading company wondering what the hell it was doing when it believed the slogan "Jamaica, no problem"

. One Opposition leader praying "For what we have received, we give thee thanks, oh Lord, but no Amen yet, please, till my kingdom come."

. One journalism corps salivating at the story of a lifetime

. One nation of Jamaican people weary of politicking and politricking

Welcome to Trafiguragate, the biggest-littlest political sleight of hand, fast developing into another "mother of all scandals". With the scenario changing with the speed of a shape-shifter, with the thousands of words pouring out of press conferences and news breaks and talk radio, what is left for poor me to do but to go off and conduct a little Vox Pop of my own. I know what I am thinking, but what are other people saying?

Let me serve warning that my poll has none of the history and scientific accreditation of those others. I don't even have a margin for error. Forgive me. My sample group was comprised of people of such rectitude that error is not even in their vocabulary. Here's what they said:

1)This is good for democracy. Corruption - and government corruption especially - has no place in a democratic society. You ask what about the breaching of confidentiality in the bank? Yes, it is serious, but no way as serious as a foreign company doing business with the government and entering into arrangements with a member of their circle.

2) Two wrongs don't make a right. You may say the ends justify the means but that is not good enough. There are implications for the future in all that's been going on. The issues of campaign financing and confidentiality in the banking sector both require urgent consideration.

3) The PNP is losing its moral compass. This is not the party of Norman Manley or Michael, for that matter. I'm not voting for them - or the JLP either. Right now I don't like any of them.

4) Don't kid yourself that all that's been going on is about any high morals. It's all about winning elections.

5) I'm intrigued by the efforts to drag Mr Patterson's name into it. Isn't he retired? Mrs Simpson Miller must deal with it. She's the prime minster now.

6) Whatta gwan? I don't understand. Who tief de money? You mean money don't tief? Then if not, what is the fuss about?

7) Don't dem sey dem was gwine do something bout how political party get election money? So what dem waiting for?

8) I don't have a thing to say except - too much sleaze in our politics.

9) What was Colin Campbell thinking?

10) Whom is Bruce Golding fooling?

11) Do you think it can get any worse than this?

12) Politics, Miss B, politics.

REFORM CALL: Globally, there is the concern for the influence which money brings to bear on politics and governance. With all the kass-kass going on now over Trafigura, we still do not hear enough from the people who have the money and social clout as to how they see their role in building the society of which they are a part, like it or not.

Out in the streets there is enough kiss-teet to go round as people respond to the events of the day. The outrage being expressed in some quarters has less to do, some believe, with concern for the moral direction of the country than political expediency. Others rejoice that at last their suspicions about political impropriety are confirmed. What they want now is to see heads roll.

That is why some people say they do not understand why Mr Golding wants the question of campaign funding to stay back until Trafiguragate is resolved. Now is the most opportune time for reform. Had appropriate structures been in place, it is argued, we would not be in the present mess. Change cannot come soon enough.

As to the banking and confidentiality, if the Bankers' Association thinks that a PR campaign will allay the fears of the public, just "walk street" and hear what is being said. This is not like days gone past, when only "big man" used banks. Now everybody is in to the System. Depositors, big and small, want to be certain that no one can carry their business "go a road". Incidentally, not many of us knew that the alleged confidentiality breach involved not one but two banks. We have heard of a motive for one of the employers. What was the mission of the other?

BETTER NEWS: Last weekend, in Port of Spain, Jamaica took two of three Awards of Excellence in a newly established prestigious competition to reward the finest exemplars of the concept of excellence in the Caribbean.

In the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence, Prof Terrence Forrester who leads the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit at the UWI, Mona, walked off with the Award for Science and Technology. Fr Gregory Ramkissoon, leader of the Mustard Seed Community, was awarded for his work in public and civic contributions. Both awards carry a quarter million US dollars to help the winners continue the work to which they have dedicated themselves. Now THAT is excellence.

The third awardee for Arts and Letters was to a highly acclaimed young Trinidadian film maker Robert Yao Ramesar. Would you believe that his mother is Jamaican - Marion Soares. The joke of the evening (for those who found delight in it) was that Jamaica took two and a half out of three. Yes, we can be excellent when we want to be, which is more often than we seem to believe.

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