OPPOSITION LEADER Bruce Golding says the Government's announced plan to fight corruption "falls far short" of what is required to clean up a system that has faced years of decay.
Mr. Golding, responding yesterday to the Government's announced initiatives, said the decisions were coming after many years of rampant corruption throughout the public sector, especially among statutory bodies and government
companies.
The Opposition Leader argued that, despite the existence of laws, rule and regulations, it was often the Cabinet that was in breach of these.
Mr. Golding said the most recent example was cited by the Contractor General in his 2002 report, in which it was noted that Cabinet had awarded some $6 billion in three contracts to one company.
"(This was) without any reference whatsoever to the National Contracts Commission (NCC), which is supposed to have an important oversight function, and in clear breach of the law governing the NCC," Mr. Golding said.
AREAS OF IMPORTANCE
The Opposition Leader said several important areas must be addressed if the problem of corruption, which he claimed has now reached epidemic proportion, is to be addressed in a meaningful way.
Among those areas are:
Approval by the NCC of all contracts above a stipulated limit, which otherwise will be deemed to be illegal and unenforceable.
Establishment of a Forensic Investigation Division in the Auditor General's Department to probe instances of corruption and to make appropriate referrals to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Appointment of a full-time executive commissioner to marshall the work of the Corruption Prevention Commission and provide adequate staffing, including qualified analysts.
Strengthening of the capabilities of the Office of the Contractor General to enable it to effectively carry out its statutory function to "monitor the award and implementation of government contracts."
Activation without delay of the Appropriations Committee of Parliament, which has remained dormant for several years. This committee will monitor the Budget as it is being expended and should be under the chairmanship of an Opposition Member of Parliament.
Mr. Golding said such initiatives, in addition to those already outlined by the Government, would be the minimum steps required to begin the process of "stemming the tide of corruption which is robbing the public purse of billions of dollars and depriving needy Jamaicans of vital essential services".
