THE EDITOR, Sir:
TOO MANY acts of corruption end up in 'file 13' in Jamaica. These days, I am beginning to think that Lord Acton's quotation, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely," is more relevant to Jamaica than any other country in the free world.
Since independence, if I had a dollar for the number of corrupt activities involving high-powered individuals that have taken place in Jamaica for which no one was held accountable, I would be a wealthy man. Why have so many of these acts of corruption been shoved under the mat, without the director of public prosecution's intervention? The only politician in the last three decades who has done hard time for an act of corruption is a former Jamaica Labour Party Minister of Labour, JAG Smith.
What of the countless other political players since then who have surreptitiously got 'a cut' here and there from government contracts that were improperly awarded to their friends; who consistently protect and have strong ties with community 'dons'; under whose watch gross financial irregularities have taken place, causing our country to lose millions of dollars in the process?
How long must we witness countless 'bigwigs' in our country, who have more than a stench of corruption surrounding them, not being held accountable?
Mike Surridge recently informed the country of large-scale corruption that took place in the foreign exchange sector in the '90s. Based upon the level and depth of corruption that has taken place in Jamaica, particularly over the past two decades, I am calling for a truth and reconciliation commission to be established now (possibly chaired by Colonel Trevor Macmillan and/or Rev. Herro Blair). If it could work in South Africa, it may work here as well.
I am, etc.,
PATRICK A. GALLIMORE
pagalley@hotmail.com
Kingston 8
Via Go-Jamaica
