The Editor, Sir:

Talk about corruption has pervaded the Jamaican society for some time. The current government has made a commitment to rid the country of this problem.

However, we need to examine the many faces of corruption, not suggesting that it is impossible to stamp it out, but to highlight the magnitude of the problem and to suggest that as a society we need to make every effort to play our part in cleaning up Jamaica.

Applauding corruption

The first lesson that we all should learn is that the 'a nuh nothing' syndrome breeds and feeds corruption.

Jamaicans have a tendency to applaud people who steal from other people who steal. Those who do not agree with this practice and speak out against it are often greeted with 'a nuh nothing', followed by the popular saying, 'thief from thief, God laugh'.

No amount of sermonising changes these views. These people sometimes commend the people who steal is a large amount of money with comments like, 'a hope him put it to good use' and 'boy, him no have to work again.'

The second lesson is that many Jamaicans excuse corruption as long as they benefit from it. Laziness among public officials breeds corruption.

For example, some persons after a hurricane claim and are compensated for things that they never owned because public officials are too lazy to go to some areas to verify the claims.

The third lesson that I think we all need to learn is that too much bureaucracy breeds corruption.

Most people view too much bureaucracy as oppressive and feel justified in bypassing the bureaucratic processes by paying corrupt bureaucrats to get work done. Each government office needs to improve the systems that serve the public.

I am, etc.,

WINNIE ANDERSON

-BROWN

winab@cwjamaica.com