Orville Taylor | Corruption, CPI and the polls

Belief and reality are not the same, although it is perception which determines what we do, rather than facts. For example, if we believe that an individual is a paedophile, even if his heart is as clean as a crackhead’s bank account, we treat him as a pervert.

When will you all get it that despite the constant clamour over the last 20 years regarding corruption, we are not a very corrupt country?

For those who ride the corruption perception index (CPI), like a hapless ass, just remember that since the mid-2000s under the People’s National Party (PNP) administration, I have been saying that it does not measure corruption.

On the contrary, as its name suggests, the CPI measures the opinion individuals have about the level of corruption. Therefore, the typical question asks if one ‘believes’ that there is corruption in one’s country. Real measures of corruption, ask very direct questions, many of which are uncomfortable, whenever the results are discussed. It took several years of slowly explaining to very educated and intelligent people with law degrees, for me to get the point across that I believe that corruption in our judicial system is very low; certainly, compared to the US and the UK.

Surveys asked whether or not individuals personally know of a bribe being paid to any particular demographics. Our numbers were very low on the whole, with police being around 12 per cent, and the judiciary around six. Yet, these numbers especially those relating to the judges were around one-third of that of our colonial and metropolitan neighbours, who love to harp about corruption in this third world nation.

For those ‘eyes wide shut’ colour blind political sycophants, who pay undue attention to CPI figure; just understand that the 44 of this Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government, is actually better than the 40 and 41, which the PNP demonstrated in the period before 2016.

Thus, the danger of Comrades paying undue attention to the current CPI, is that it supports a conclusion, based on this statistic, that corruption has declined since 2016.

Of course, the reality is that across several surveys, by local and international entities, around 90 per cent of Jamaicans report no personal victimisation by corruption. One can apply for a passport, birth certificate, drivers’ licence, admission to a school or any other government service, without dropping a money.

That Jamaica corruption level is nowhere near what we banter it to be, might be an inconvenient truth in this political season. However, we should look at the numbers coming from out of the Don Anderson polls.

No poll conducted in the last year, indicated that corruption was an important issue for Jamaicans. Earlier numbers polled at around 14 per cent. Jamaicans do not see it as a big problem, simply because most do not experience it.

True, we believe that corruption between the two political parties exists. Yet, a statistically even 25 per cent of respondents, when asked which of the two main parties was more committed to reducing corruption, polled between the JLP, PNP, and none. Adjusting for the margin or error, the other quarter said ‘don’t know.’

Nevertheless, there is logic behind the numbers. Among those who considered the JLP more committed to fighting corruption, some 36 per cent saw it ‘trying’ and another 32, that it had ‘been consistent in addressing these issues’. This 67 per cent compares favourably with the PNP, whose responses are 18 and 24 per cent respectively, for a total of 42 per cent.

Of the respondents who indicated that the PNP was more committed to reducing corruption, looking back with 20/20 hindsight vision, 38 per cent said that its track record showed a reduction in corruption.

In comparison, this statistic for the current JLP is 17 per cent. Note however, memory is one of the most unreliable forms of recording and like everything else, is subject to retroactive perception. Fact is, the CPI under the PNP was lower. Therefore, the persons polled either were not captured 10 years ago, or they had a different opinion then.

Indeed, the dissonance in these numbers completely prove my point that the CPI measures nothing except what people believe; not what is true.

Be not mistaken! For those who do not push any party line, low corruption is integral to the preservation of our democracy. However, inasmuch as it does not fit the narrative, in real terms, we are not among the most corrupt of countries. This was my position when the PNP was getting its 41 and it is the same now with the JLP’s 44.

For those who are trying to avoid elective dysfunction and beat off the stiff challenge of the adversary, who are still too close to call victor or loser; there are other issues that are more important.

In Jamaica, elections are won when the party is seen as a friend of organised labour and the worker, who does not want to stick out his palm in order to be ‘minister of minding.’

It is lost when the incumbent seems to be at odds with the security forces, especially the leadership of the federated ranks of the constabulary.

Check the record, every government that has lost the support of the rank and file, had failed in the next general election since the 1970s.

Inasmuch as corruption matters, freedom of the press and basic human rights are paramount. Typically, regimes, that go to extraordinary means to silence the press and civil dissent have got the boot.

Those things matter far more than corruption, because we see it as ‘corruption in high places’ but not in our faces. Most Jamaicans have never had an immigration or custom officer blatantly say, “lunch money, because it is Sunday!” or pay to get a free government form.

Finally, there is a delicate statistic that matters to us. Most of us do not walk in mortal fear of murderers, because 70 per cent of the victims and killers are gang members.

A reduction in homicide does help the incumbent, but only if the majority of the voting public believes that most of police killings are justified.

As I said, it is all about perception; but belief kills and cures and wins and loses elections.

Orville Taylor is senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology at The University of the West Indies, a radio talk-show host, and author of ‘Broken Promises, Hearts and Pockets’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and tayloronblackline@hotmail.com.