The late Professor Rex Nettleford’s pithy quip that Jamaica is a nation laced with larceny continues to be a haunting reminder of what appears to have become a national pastime, that of thievery. From raiding public coffers to relieving private entities of their funds and praedial larceny, not to mention the latest obsession among hoodlums of emptying automated teller machines and robbing “Brinx” vehicles, usually at gunpoint and in a deadly fashion, Jamaicans are fast becoming punch-drunk on the numerous incidents of theft, robbery, and larceny that have now beset this country.

And what is even most frightening is that the average Jamaican, in the final analysis, does not see most of these acts as wrong. Indeed, the usual glib response is, “A nuh nutten, man haffi eat a food.” What is also tragic and that which should give every well-thinking Jamaican food for thought is that the considered view is that these corrupt acts have been par for the course at the very top of the pile, meaning government, and as the saying goes, “When the fish spoils, it is the head that first begins to rot.”

It is the perception among many Jamaicans, for example, that every politician is a thief. And from anecdotal and other accounts, it is safe to say that many politicians have from time to time helped themselves by putting their sticky fingers in the till. Of course, we have seen that successive administrations have “raided” public agencies in order to pursue so-called emergency funding exercises as has been the case with the National Housing Trust. The pity is that there are no effective impeachment laws or other checks and balances to prevent politicians from putting their sticky fingers in the public purse. And it is very rare for a politician who has been caught red-handed to be made to wear short pants. In this vein, it is hoped that the new the Constitution of Jamaica will sufficiently seek to address the overall vexing issue of corruption and thievery committed by public officials, regardless of their rank or status.

In the meantime, a frequently asked question these days is: If, as Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his colleagues have been crowing, there is prosperity, why is it that there has been this massive increase in acts of dishonesty across the land and in all strata of the society? Or is it because there has been a greater level of scrutiny and the investigative arms of the Jamaica Constabulary Force have become more deliberate and persistent in ferreting out acts of fraud and corruption?

The latest scandal unfolding at INSPORTS is a case in point, wherein the highlighted fraudulent activities go way back to 2016-2017. Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) must be commended for its diligence and professional perseverance in bringing this multi-million-dollar fraud to light. Meanwhile, we are waiting with bated breath to see what will ultimately unfold in the Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) debacle as well as other celebrated cases in the pipeline, including allegations of fraud at the Ministry of Education and Youth, because too often sceptical Jamaicans have opined that, “Nutten nah go happen, just a nine-day wonder,” which speaks to the low level of trust they have in the system.

Against this backdrop, we are still living in a larceny-laced culture in which whistleblowers are despised, ostracised, and may even face life-threatening circumstances. In this regard, the recent barbs and attacks levelled at the Integrity Commission and the Auditor General’s Department, much of which have been perpetrated by partisan hacks and have taken on personal bile, should be of concern to all well-thinking citizens.

Nobody should be above the law or treated in any special way, not even the prime minister, and, again, let us hope that the new constitution will strengthen the roles and functions of these important bodies and help shield them from ill-advised and misguided people who do not act in the national interest but pursue narrow partisan agendas.

It boggles the mind to think of the millions of dollars which could have been used in legitimate ways to better the lot of the general citizenry that have gone into the pockets of unscrupulous individuals. In this context, cost overruns and a disregard in meeting established time guidelines for the completion of government projects in this writer’s mind speaks to dishonesty that may well have set the stage for massive fraud involving misappropriation of public funds. While, so far, there have been no definitive findings relating to what has been happening at the problem-plagued Cornwall Regional Hospital, it begs question as to why so much has been expended in relation to so little done.

One of the greatest conduits for theft and corruption in this country is roadworks. Let us not fool ourselves, this is one area in which the “man-haffi-eat-a-food” mentality and practice are most pervasive. In real terms, everybody has to get a cut — from Member of Parliament right down to the flagman! But, regrettably, no one is going to bell the cat. That is why it was almost laughable when the prime minister recently almost bragged in his budget presentation that specific plans will be put in place to deter extortionists from plaguing work sites. If this works and is sustained, then he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize, not that I am trying to be cynical, but as the old Jamaican saying goes, “Wha gone bad a mawnin, can’t come good a evenin!”

In closing, I will share some anecdotes with you with respect to “tiefing”. I recall an incident on St James Street many years ago when the late Robert Garth, well-known hotelier and American consul, was strolling downtown when a raggedy young man sought to relieve him of his wallet. With righteous indignation, the very prim and proper gentleman looked at him with much disdain and said in impeccable English, “You damn thief, how dare you!” The pickpocket was so shocked and taken off guard, he threw down the wallet and hightailed it out of there.

In a not-so-luckier case, a stush woman was relieved of her handbag by a miscreant, and on seeing him make his escape she stood there in all her royal splendour shouting, “Steal, steal!” Needless to say, nobody paid her any mind. Not so in my case when a would-be robber one late evening grabbed my pouch and ran off with his booty. Throwing all caution and pride to the wind, and notwithstanding my portly physique, I ran after him with wild abandon shouting, “Tief, tief!” In no time a number of people joined in the chase, and when the thief realised that he was being cornered, he threw down the pouch and disappeared into the night.

Well, it is said that one should not “tek serious ting mek joke”, so that’s all for now, folks. But, seriously, there are too many sticky fingers out there! Walk good and be careful.

Lloyd B Smith has been involved in Jamaican media for the past 47 years. He has also served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He hails from western Jamaica where he is popularly known as the Governor. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or lbsmith4@gmail.com.