Dear Editor,

American comedian and motivational speaker Steve Harvey once asked this question on his TV game show: “Name a job that pays well?” A woman on the panel answered, “Steve, I’m going to go with politicians.” Steve’s response was epic, and it quickly went viral: “Nowhere in the world do politicians make a lot of money, but all over the world they steal a lot of money.” A blunt response but arguably one that many would agree with.

There have been many political leaders in other countries who have been found guilty of crimes involving corruption and ended up serving time in prison. This is why the response to the massive salary increases for parliamentarians was overwhelmingly negative as the public perception links them to corruption, selfishness, dishonesty, and greed.

Organisations such as the Integrity Commission (IC) are never perfect, but they can help to keep politicians in check and balance a system that is filled with many loopholes which can be tempting to some who have access to large sums of public funds.

Well-thinking Jamaicans should denounce the onslaught of attacks coming from government ministers on the IC. Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck accused the IC of having “no integrity” and going beyond its jurisdiction by making itself an oversight body. Legal Affairs Minister Marlene Malahoo Forte ripped the IC for its “shaming approach”. While minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister Everald Warmington called it a “rogue organisation” which should be overhauled. Eventually, Prime Minister Andrew Holness asked that the attacks stop, although his request came too late.

It is now being reported that the IC is investigating two parliamentarians and six public servants for falsifying information presented to the IC and illicit enrichment.

Corruption is a major problem in Jamaica and reportedly some 5-7 per cent of our gross domestic product is lost annually due to corruption. This amounts to approximately $100 billion each year. We must ensure that politicians are held to the highest standards of integrity, which is why organisations such as the IC exist. We must allow the IC to do its job and improve its efficiency. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

We must uphold principles of integrity and ethics and the IC is part of the system that allows us to do so. Imagine if even 50 per cent of the loss to corruption was invested in education, health care, and social services each year? Corruption, like crime, poses a major impediment to national development and prosperity and we must contain it.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com