Keith Duncan, president and chief operative officer of JMMB. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
PUBLIC OFFICIALS who squander state funds should be either fired or held criminally responsible for their actions, according to one of the top players in Jamaica's financial sector.
Keith Duncan, Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) chief executive officer, said yesterday that, given the nation's dwindling financial resources, the public must adopt a zero tolerance approach to the mismanagement of state funds.
"Addressing corruption and waste has to be a major priority of the Government (as well as) the citizens of Jamaica," Mr. Duncan said while addressing the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce quarterly luncheon in St. James.
"Resources are too scarce to be squandered and wasted. NetServ, Intech Fund, Operation PRIDE, the National Solid Waste Management Authority, North Coast Highway, Sandals Whitehouse ... we must take a zero tolerance approach, there must be consequences, those responsible must be fired or held criminally responsible," he emphasised. "We cannot live in a society where those who live by the rules get shafted or a different set of rules get applied to different people."
LACK OF BALANCE
He lamented the lack of balance in a society where 'a little man' who commits a basic crime gets a stiff sentence while billions of taxpayers' dollars are wasted with minimal consequences.
Comparing the literacy levels across the Caribbean, Mr. Duncan also suggested that the education system in Jamaica is being mismanaged and called for a shake-up in the sector.
"One may think we are not spending enough money (but) the World Bank Report 2004 suggests that we are spending more money on education than many of our Caribbean neighbours but are getting less satisfactory outcomes," he said. "We are therefore not getting value for our money and no one is being held responsible."
