Robert Hart and Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writers
WAYNE JONES, president of the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA), says the implementation of whistle-blowing legislation would be a more effective way to combat corruption in the public sector rather than reforms proposed recently by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.
Although welcoming the Prime Minister's proposals to strengthen the Public Service Commission (PSC) in an effort to flush out corrupt officials, the association's president said that approach lacked teeth.
"It must be noted that the PSC has limited reach in the public service and this could be proven somewhat ineffective in the fight," Mr. Jones said in a recent statement to The Gleaner.
Furthermore, he noted that it was the hybrid, high-profile agencies that seemed to provide a fertile breeding ground for corruption, and that breaches by those entities are dealt with within their own systems.
More than a week ago, Mr. Patterson convened a special meeting with the heads of government departments and board of statutory agencies to address corruption.
CORRUPT PRACTICES
But Jones noted, "... I suspect that if the PM is not himself prepared to mete out punishment to those who fail to implement, we will again have just another announcement," Mr. Jones said.
He argued that while it is often said that the 'community' must take part in revealing corrupt practices, due regard has not been paid to the need to provide adequate cover and protection for those who want to cooperate.
"In this violent, individualistic and intimate society," Jones said. "It is naïve at best to think that many persons are going to risk their family's safety and theirs to tell what they know without adequate assurances that they will not themselves be 'punished' for having stood up for what is correct."
According to Mr. Jones, what is needed is a very simple, but practical menu of legislation that can offer all parties an environment in which information can flow with "very little possibility of reprisal or the accustomed vindictiveness".
"It's something we do need in Jamaica," agreed human rights advocate Susan Goffe. "There are civil servants who could be able to speak about breaches but they are afraid of the consequences," said Goffe, spokesperson for Jamaicans For Justice.
But, Beth Aub, spokesperson for the anti-corruption body Transparency International (Jamaica), told The Gleaner this week she was not in support of whistle-blower protection legislation and that the best way to wipe out corruption was through education.
"I think whistle-blowing doesn't fall within our cultural norm. We need to get to the point where we are all educated as to what is
corruption," Mrs. Aub said.
