Alfred Dawes | The chicken back revolution

Usually significant disruptions in the politico-economic order have fancy names such as the Tulip, Rose and the Velvet Revolutions. These movements create great upheavals that lead to changes in laws, governments and socio-economic conditions in a society. Despite the hopes and wishes of well-thinking nationalists, we are yet to see any public outrage or electioneering promises materialise into any meaningful actions. In recent times, the closest we have seen any such moves being made is the announcement this week of an impending change in the importation policy of chicken back. What? Nonsense, you say?! Well, you may dismiss this as trivial in the grand scheme of things, but to insiders this is a bold move, with politicians acting against their own self-interests.

The Integrity Commission recently released a damning report on the importation of chicken neck and back. The report reads: “The discretionary power accorded to the minister to provide instructions for the issuance of import permits, in the absence of adequate checks and balances, is a mechanism which has the potential to facilitate corruption.” It spoke to the lack of transparency in the awarding of licences and the loopholes for corruption in the current regime. I hadn’t given much thought to the notion of chicken back licences so I went to a well-informed source in the field. Let’s call him ‘Deep Chroat’ (Dr Cooper, is suh it spell?)

Deep Chroat informed me that chicken back is one of the most commonly traded commodity in Jamaica, included in the ranks of flour, rice and sugar. It is the most commonly consumed protein and is in fact the national dish for most poor Jamaicans. Without chicken back we would have undernourished children and the associated long-term consequences multiplying fourfold. Just thinking about it one realises that there are not many cheap protein sources around. The fish back brought to Parliament some time ago is a small market as Jamaicans do not eat a lot of fish. This is chicken country, and chicken back is the cheapest part most can afford. This makes it a well-sought-after commodity. As a result, fortunes are built on the backs of chickens. One shipment of chicken back may pass through four different hands, each with a mark-up before it reaches the distributor who sells to the corner shop.

CHICKEN BACK CARTEL

Licences for the bulk import of chicken neck and back are issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. These licences are not available to the general public but to a tightly knit group Deep Chroat refers to as the Chicken Back Cartel. Primary licences are resold to import containers at several hundred thousand dollars per container. Part proceeds are funnelled to different entities and individuals as bribes and kickbacks. With 3-4 million dollars made per container, these pay-offs are chump change. But how is this benefiting politicians, though? “Well, imagine you want to buy out someone for any particular reason. You don’t need to pay them off. You can just gift them the opportunity to make millions by just making a few phone calls and making a trade like any commodities dealer. That way loyalty and compliance cost you nothing. This has been going on for years and you’d be surprised at the big people and companies involved. As a matter of fact, be careful if you choose to write about this. Don’t play with people’s food.” “Even if it is chicken back?” I replied. He did not find it funny.

It started to feel surreal. Dangerous, even. As if I was opening the tomb of a long lost Pharaoh. I forgot for a moment that we were talking about chicken back.

Okay, so why is Holness acting on it now if it’s going to affect potential donors and possibly act against the interest of the Jamaican politician? “Good question. I don’t know the answer. But how he acts will determine the nobility of his intentions. If he hands it over to the local producers to manage then the producers will determine how many containers should, and when they will, come in. The payola for the licences will still be there. It may simply be that money will only shift around. The power to determine who gets to benefit will shift from one cartel to another. The only thing will definitely change is the mixing of premium parts with the chicken back. That is the main contention of producers why they are making up so much noise. They are not competing for the chicken back market. They just want the importers to stick to only chicken back and leave their premium parts market alone. Producers taking over the administration of the licences amounts to a subsidy, as the fees collected for regulation goes to their bottom line.”

LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD

“If, however, the PM decides once and for all to clean up the game, it could be the beginning of a new era in Jamaica where cartels controlling certain sectors are crushed and fairness and transparency become the order of the day. Politicians voluntarily giving up powers that can directly lead to less influence over the fortunes of others who can be coaxed into their sphere of influence. Is that thinkable?”

Deep Chroat’s suggestion for ending the chicken back controversy – have public auctions where anyone who meets stipulated criteria can bid for licences. It raises funds for the Government which can be used to invest in local farmers, and it levels the playing field, removing any hint of corruption.

I have had several conversations with fellow columnists and social justice advocates. We all seem to believe that our lowly place is to water the seeds of change, hoping that one day even after we are gone they will sprout. Or as one put it, keep hammering at the metal and one day it will take shape. Maybe it is premature in hoping that some seeds are beginning to germinate. But if they are, we will see the fruits they bear. And books will be written about the Chicken Back Revolution of 2021.

- Alfred Dawes is a general, laparoscopic, and weight-loss surgeon; Fellow of the American College of Surgeons; former senior medical officer of the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital; former president of the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association. @dr_aldawes. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and adawes@ilapmedical.com.