Letter of the Day | Integrity Commission has its purpose
Published:Saturday | July 1, 2023 | 12:11 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
American comedian Steve Harvey once asked the question on his TV game show, “Name a job that pays well?.” A woman answered, “Steve, I’m going to go with politicians.” Harvey’s response was epic and it quickly went viral. “Nowhere in the world do politicians make a lot of money, but all over the world they steal a lot of money.” A blunt response, but arguably one that many would agree with.
There have been many political leaders who have been found guilty of crimes involving corruption and ended up serving time in prison. This is why the public response to the massive salary increases for parliamentarians was overwhelmingly negative due to the perception linking them to corruption, selfishness, dishonesty and greed. Organisations, such as the Integrity Commission (IC), are never perfect, but they can help to keep politicians in check and balance a system that is filled with many loopholes which can be tempting to some, who have access to large sums of public funds.
Well-thinking Jamaicans should denounce the onslaught of attacks coming from government ministers on the Integrity Commission. Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck accused IC of having no “integrity” and going beyond its jurisdiction by making itself an oversight body. Constitutional Affairs Minister Malahoo Forte ripped the IC for its “shaming aproach”. While minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Everald Warmington, called it a “rogue organisation” which should be overhauled. Eventually, the PM asked that the attacks be stopped, although his request came too late, which implied that he might have initially endorsed them. It is now been reported that the IC is investigating two parliamentarians and six public servants for falsifying information presented to the IC and for illicit enrichment. The PM’s income, assets and liabilities in 2021, we understand, cannot be certified; this is a major concern to the public.
Corruption is a major problem in Jamaica and reportedly some five to seven per cent 0f our GDP is lost annually due to corruption. This amounts to approximately $100 billion each year. We must ensure that politicians are held to the highest standards of integrity, which is why organisations, such as the IC, exist. We must allow the IC to do its jobs, improve their efficiencies, and not be intimidated by threats and attacks. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. It is very concerning that the commission cannot certify the information for the head of government. We must uphold principles of integrity and ethics with governance and the IC is part of the system that allows us to do so. Imagine if even 50 per cent of the loss to corruption were invested in education, health care and social services each year? Corruption, like crime, poses a major impediment to national development and prosperity and we must be able to contain it.
P. CHIN