Garth Rattray | Widespread corruption, are we there yet?

Imagine that your dogs chewed off the registration plates of your car. Imagine that you went through the prescribed process to replace them, but after a year, you were still using temporary plates because the replacements were not ready. Imagine that you eventually sold that car without ever receiving the replacement plates.

Imagine that months later, a bicycle rider accidentally tore the front registration plates off your new vehicle. With bad memories of the last time that you tried to replace damaged plates, you called a friend who owned an auto repair shop to see if he knew anyone who could expedite the process. Your friend simply asked for the information on the registration plates, and the very next morning, and at a nominal cost, brand-new, government-minted registration plates were brought to you, and the damaged plates destroyed with a zinc cutter.

Imagine that about three months later, you received a phone call from the police. They said that your car was involved in a hit and run accident earlier that day. You knew that your car was parked at your office the entire day. Nonetheless, you drove by the police station for them to see that your vehicle was free from damage. Knowing what you do about how ‘genuine’ registration plates can be made on the side, you realised that someone else had identical registration plates attached to their vehicle.

Imagine that you were in a position of authority in a government-run organisation. You were told to sign a cheque for a completed contract, but you realised that the amount on the cheque was twice the figure agreed upon. You thought that it was an error, but the person presenting the cheque for your signature insisted that you sign it anyway. You are an honourable person with integrity, so you refused. Imagine that someone attempted to kill a family member believing that he was you. Based on that attempt, the police provided 24-hour protection, but your contract was not renewed because you refused to play ball. Despite a lifetime of invaluable service to your country, your life was changed forever.

HAD LINKS

Imagine that you had links (friends, associates, financial parasites) within the authority responsible for regulating and monitoring the construction of buildings. Imagine that you wanted to erect a building without regard for the zoning or covenants. Imagine that you submitted a building plan, but the building was never inspected and you were able to do whatever you pleased, build as high as you felt like, build right up to the periphery, and conduct any business within a residential zone. Imagine that no amount of complaining, from anybody, could stop you or affect you in any way whatsoever.

Imagine that you are a member of the constabulary and that a relative of yours was wrongly assumed to be a gangster. Imagine that he was held, and save for his co-workers, would probably have been killed. Imagine that you, being averse to the practices of rogue cops, bailed your relative and allowed him to remain at your home for his safety. Imagine that another member of the constabulary visited you and suggested that you mind the company that you kept. Imagine that you have had to be brave and do your duty to your country despite the negative forces within the organisation of which you are a valuable part.

Imagine that you are a traffic cop, but you want to get a windfall. Imagine that you easily borrow a regular police unit and a ‘speed gun’. You take a youngster under your wings and park along the North South (Luxury) Highway. You point your device at a vehicle that is speeding at over 100km/hr. You keep that reading on your device and stop vehicles of your choosing and tell the drivers that they have been speeding excessively. You are a uniformed police officer with a clearly visible sidearm intimidating and extorting the public that you have sworn to serve, protect, and reassure. But it’s okay. No one can easily report you … the system is not designed for that. So there are no consequences to your actions.

Imagine that you are in a position to observe the day-to-day activities of the judicial system within a locality. Imagine that you discover irregularities, disarray, and unethical practices (corruption). Imagine that you make a go at cleaning up the place. Imagine that you meet resistance from several quarters. Imagine that you persist and that you have come under the crosshairs of the people who are benefiting from the entrenched disorganisation and corruption. Imagine that you cannot relent because you are an honest professional who is dedicated to your country. Imagine that despite the risk to your personal safety, the pressure and intimidation, you do what you do because you cannot allow the last bastion of integrity, the judicial system, to be breached.

Imagine all that and then ask yourself the question: “Are we there yet?” The answer is a resounding yes … yes, we are. All those things have happened in our little nation. All those things and much more are happening in our little island.

According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index of 2023, with a score of 44, Jamaica ranked 69 out of 180 countries. Our score remains unchanged since last year. The organisation uses country experts and business executives to assess the level of public-sector corruption. However, I sincerely believe that we are significantly more corrupt than the survey portrays. We must do better.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.