We need corruption fighters
published: Thursday | May 5, 2005

The Editor, Sir:

Someone has to take the lead in dealing with the issue of corruption in this country. Ideally, the Prime Minister should be able to provide leadership in dealing with this issue. The present Prime Minister cannot deal with the issue of corruption in this country. It is too late now. He is about to demit office. He cannot afford to stir up a hornet's nest and leave it. The clean-up campaign takes time. Both the PNP and the JLP will have to work together to deal with corruption, and Jamaicans need to be vigilant.

A visit to a website that purports to be the official site for Vacation and Travel to Jamaica, http://www.all-jamaica.com, yields the following, under the heading, Corruption & 'Garrison' politics. "The one thing that the PNP and the JLP have in common is a flair for corruption and pandering what Jamaicans call 'politricks.' Graft is a way of life in Jamaican politics, cronyism is entrenched in the system, and the government's so-called social and economic support program is a gravy train for contractors with political connections. Leading officials are usually political appointees eager to cash in for themselves before the next change of government."

The JLP has not had a chance to demonstrate a flair for corruption in recent times, so we do not know if they still share this flair with the PNP. Whistle-blowing is not enough to assure us. Jamaican taxpayers need to pay more attention to the way their money is spent. Too many of us are indifferent.

I am, etc.,

WINNIE ANDERSON-BROWN

winab@cwjamaica.com

Bagatelle District

Ashley P.A.

Clarendon