KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Integrity Action (NIA) and the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC) are seeking to meet separately with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Leader of the Opposition Peter Phillips and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) to address what they say is the long-standing deficit of public trust, which has been further damaged by the Petrojam scandal.

The NIA and the JUGC in a joint release today disclosed that both bodies met yesterday to consult on the question of integrity and the obvious erosion of public trust which they said has become a feature in the Jamaican society over many years.

In particular, the bodies said over the last several weeks they have observed “exposures of alleged corrupt practices and loose management at Petrojam, jointly owned by the Governments of Jamaica and Venezuela”.

“The allegations concern us deeply, as they should all Jamaicans, regardless of affiliations, as they pertain to misappropriation of funds, dereliction of duties, questionable standards of hiring and separating employees, unusually high attrition rates and the demoralisation of staff.”

The groups further argued that in the public space, there are inconsistencies in information presented by officials of the entity that raise issues of accountability and credibility, and as such, are requesting a meeting with the public officials to engage on “strengthening the resolve to abide by high ethical principles in leadership and governance, as well as gauging processes for “raising the bar” for individual and corporate conduct”.

The JUGC and the NIA said they have also agreed to facilitate a series of public fora to have related conversations with citizens for the purpose of soul searching and aspiring to becoming a part of the solution to “the alarming erosive influence on the deterioration of discipline”.

See full statement below:

The Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC) and National Integrity Action (NIA) met on July 5, 2018 to consult on the question of integrity and good corporate governance and the obvious erosion of public trust, which has become a feature in the Jamaican society over many years. Both bodies underscored the need for urgency in arresting this degenerative trend, which is affecting the nation at every level.

In particular, we have observed over the last several weeks exposures of alleged corrupt practices and loose management at Petrojam, jointly owned by the governments of Jamaica and Venezuela. The allegations concern us deeply, as they should all Jamaicans, regardless of affiliations, as they pertain to misappropriation of funds, dereliction of duties, questionable standards of hiring and separating employees, unusually high attrition rates and the demoralization of staff.

In the public space, there are inconsistencies in information presented by officials of the entity that – at a minimum – raise issues of accountability and credibility.

Given the nature of the allegations and the importance of not only appearing to, but actually demonstrating a commitment to upholding the highest moral and ethical responsibility, the JUGC and the NIA join in seeking separate meetings with the Honourable Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honourable Leader of the Opposition and the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica to address the long-standing deficit of public trust (which has been further damaged by the Petrojam situation).

These meetings will allow for engaging on strengthening the resolve to abide by high ethical principles in leadership and governance, as well as gauging processes for “raising the bar” for individual and corporate conduct.

The JUGC and the NIA have also agreed to facilitate a series of public fora to have related conversations with citizens for the purpose of soul searching and aspiring to becoming a part of the solution to the alarming erosive influence on the deterioration of discipline.