CHRISTIE... Sierra Leone case should be reflected upon by all of us

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Sean H.
3/12/2010
The statute of limitations is 7 years ...
So is this lesson is applicable to the 2 years exited, now opposition party as well?

Hope Alive
3/12/2010
@ TG or Tuff Gong: Just went to the OCG's website and noted that there are eight reports. Five are from the previous government and three from this government. At the rate this Govt is going, they will soon surpass the previous Govt in terms of corruption.

Wayne L
3/12/2010
Here is one area where I believe this administration is not serious. They came to power on the premise that they would tackle curruption by enacting certain laws and creating an office for a special prosecutor. If they are truly serious, they will push those thru and ensure they have enough teeth to be effective. Makes you wonder how different are they from the previous administration when it comes to curtailing curruption.

Cee Dubya
3/12/2010
When we appoint certain people to be “entrusted with the responsibility to lead the State's anti-corruption, law-enforcement and prosecutorial institutions”, what are the measures that we put in place to ensure that they are up to the mark, and keep up to the mark, in every way, as they carry out their duties? Apart from periodic reports – which can say anything you want them to – what do we do to make sure that in every nook and cranny, things are being done in acceptable ways? Sure there are audits, but, again, don’t you wonder sometimes how some things get… “overlooked”?
As so many have said, repeatedly, Jamaica has sunk into a rather horrific abyss. The taxpayers would welcome suitable persons in which to repose their trust. However, when we place/appoint someone in Jamaica to a position of almost unrestrained power – doesn’t matter who it is – we have to remember that that person is human. S/he, like anyone else, has to deal with personal demons. There may be psychological or emotional shortcomings which, as we know, are not usually indicated on a resumé or highlighted during an interview or even have been demonstrated in a ‘less powerful’ job. Being in a position where s/he doesn’t have to answer to anyone, per se, is a pretty powerful one. As Lord Acton said in a letter to Bishop Mandel Creighton in 1887: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."
Does this mean that we leave these positions of almost unlimited power unfilled because each man/woman has his/her set of weaknesses? Do we throw our hands up, appoint someone who seems to fit the bill, and then hope for the best? Again, hope is not a method.
It’s a different take on the whole thing, but, I submit that while we look around for these positions of power to be filled; for the best woman or man to be “entrusted with the responsibility to lead the State's anti-corruption, law-enforcement and prosecutorial institutions”, we also institute some kind of… I dunno, mandatory psychological (and other relevant) evaluation to assure ourselves that the incumbent remains fit for the job – in every way! No set date, either. Between a year and 18 months, with no more notice than a day or two, the evaluation is done and the taxpayers get to hear the final result. No. This is not to evaluate them to determine sainthood. But, certainly, however it is crafted, it should help to determine whether power is getting to the head, and possibly leading to some “can’t touch dis!” behaviour.
Consider the yet-to-be created Independent Commission of Investigations to be led by a Commissioner – pretty powerful position. Generally, those are regarded as “what I say, goes” positions. But, every public position is answerable to someone and, ultimately, the country’s taxpayers. A palatable pronouncement is one thing. Behind the closed doors of the organization, what is taking place and how? Intrusive? Lack of trust? Perhaps, but, we’re talking about real real transparency. Nothing to hinder the work, just enough to keep us…assured.
So, it’s not just about who is watching the watchman. Deeper still, are we keeping track of whether s/he is still sound in mind and not embracing delusions of grandeur under the weight of the powerful position? Who questions him/her? Do media even bother? Listen, danger ahead when people in powerful positions become “media darlings”. The media only become conduits of messages and clearly lose objectivity as they are essentially dictated to; as they dare not carry out “investigative journalism” which might topple the status quo. And if the media do get wind that something has gone awry, again, do they bother, or do they just leave it be, because everything else seems to be working and “no better nuh deh a John shop”?
Things like reports and audits do not necessarily capture, for example, the hell of a milieu to which employees are sometimes subjected, as they endure the psychological and emotional onslaughts borne out of psychological and mental delusions from occupying an ‘almighty’ position. They do not necessarily capture the signs and possible tendencies that an individual, if so afflicted, might display over time – tendencies that might lead to his/her own demise, that of others, or worse yet, irrefutable evidence of some form of inconsistency/corruption!
“If fish come from sea bottom and tell yuh seh shark down deh…”

Rorschach Rorschach
3/12/2010
Jamaica has always been one big corrupt cesspit. Nothing will ever change.

T G
3/12/2010
All I can say is after two years the Comrade Nightmares are still with us. All or most of the arguments in these reports are based on events more than two years old.
This Report mirrors most of the reports over the last five years, the Jamaican Government under Bruce Golding should have moved with alacrity to deal with most of these matters, but we are hypocrites if we don't recognize the fact of the legacy issues.
The matter of the two ministers are legal and either in the courts or with the AG. Our court and legal system was notoriously slow and inefficient long before the JLP Government came to power and was never going to be turned around in two years under any circumstances.
....TG....

Ms. Lee B.
3/12/2010
They are corrupt to the very core. There is nothing that is transparent in any of the governments (past or present). Politicians live HIGH on the hog, they allow their friends who have little or no skills to speak of to build roads and other public facilities. They are selling everything Jamaican to non-Jamaicans even as they squeeze the life out of local businesses. Very few of them deserve to be in government.
The last piece of rubbish is this shallow claim that the rights of Jamaicans are important. THIS after denying the former boss of the BOJ the RIGHT to defend his position.
I wonder when the people are going to rise up and take back Jamaica.

Richard Edwards
3/12/2010
Hello, fram mi bawn a Jubilee mi know seh corrupshan a strangle Jumaika, an weh unno did deh. Dis anuh brakin newz, mi wi chek di hedline again tumarrow, maybe unno will hav new infamayshan.
Richard Edwards.New York City
betterlifeforjamaicans@yahoo.com

Sad Jamaican
3/12/2010
One of the few fearless voices of reason and decency in this wasteland. Mr Greg, please keep yourself safe, Jamaica needs a leader and the people are going to be calling on you soon!!
Bruce, you are a disappointment to many. And you, who are waiting in the wings, we don't need you either. The damage you have wrought in your 18 year tenure cannot be repaired for now, so stop pretending you have any answers!

Arlene Frome
3/12/2010
Dear Ja Cynic
u r so correct. The cartoon shows that Bruce alone is trying to do everything and cannot manage. Where are the ladies who should be in there with him helping him. Poor thing him nuh see seh all of the food out fi bun up the fire too hot. Up to de egg yolk start burn.

Wharf Dawg
3/12/2010
The Contractor General is a toothless tiger, made even more so by an Opposition party that has a history of corruption. The fact that the JLP has not been asked to account for the many scandals that they have had shows that the PNP cannot effectively critique because of their history of corruption.
Only the Jamaican people can hold the JLP accountable.
Had the CG any real powers he would not be complaining he would be seeking indictments. One need only to look at the latest scandal with Ed Bartlet to know the CG is like a watch dog tied to the fence. He can only bark from a distance. He has no bite.

mike willy
3/12/2010
The Government is aware that the public knows that they (the government) is involved in corruption by giving no bid multi million dollar contracts to so called Dons or Community Leaders.
Maybe the Government hands are tied as the Dons and Community Leaders tell the Government what to do and what not to do.

Jan M
3/12/2010
Although Mr. Christie is doing an excellent job, corruption will NOT decrease in Jamaica until the culprits are put behind bars with very harsh punishment.

C. Brown
3/12/2010
Tell them again Mr. Christie. Mr. Christie is a true example of the kind of leadership Jamaica lacks. He leads without fear or favor, and with him leading the way, no doubt corruption will take a hit… Keep up the pressure Mr. Christie.. Well done so far…

patrick smith
3/12/2010
the bottom line is the politicians are the ones who write the laws so they simply don't legislate any law that would severely punish them for being corrupt, and if caught they rely on the party loyalist to turn a blind eye, and as the saying goes "if the head of the river is dirty it can't be clean down stream" - welcome to Jamaica

3/12/2010
The hypocrites are coming out one by one.

3/12/2010
The hypocrites now will come out to decry the corruption. Let those who dont pay to get their drivers licence, those who dont practice particularism, those who dont take home company property; even a paper clip without permission, those who engage in nepotism and ignore meritocracy.....let all those without sin cast the first stone. Bottom line is that all of US are guilty in some form or the other and repentance needs to begin there.

C Hamilton
3/12/2010
C'mon ya'll think anything going to change? When last a polititican went the prision over anything? ...eeenh? Plus all dem big shat juss a guh fly to abraod and wait till tings blow ova. Look how lang Kern Spencer deh pon trial...if him guh prision den me know sey Massa Gad a come fi him world. Chu.

JA Cynic
3/12/2010
The warnings of the CG must be taken very seriously.This CG does not "kin teeth" and must have a basis for this public warning.Coming on the heels of other condemnations of the Golding government, it is clear that all is not well.
Clovis's cartoon shows Bruce in the kitchen, based on the PM"s own confession of his stress-buster.The question remains: Can Bruce Cook?

Jay Brown
3/12/2010
I keep insisting that Jamaica do not take corruption seriously enough in fact many do not even seem to understand the breadth of this problem.
That is if we benefit from corruption then its ok, however if we don't then its a problem.
http://johnww.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/corruption-in-jamaica-part-1-of-2/