THE EDITOR, Sir:
Jamaica was once the paradigm in public administration for other West Indian territories and a cynosure for eyes beyond, especially among the newly-emerging countries of Africa. The latter either sent their public officials to learn from us, or we sent ours to teach them. What made Jamaica a pattern to be emulated at that time? It was our understanding and demonstration of the principles of accountability and responsibility. These were also the twin principles on which statutory bodies operated.
Since those days not too far gone, we have developed the professional politician who has no other source of income, but the swill at the public trough; he became the administrator/politician in our administration. He brought in his tow, 'political hangers on', who occupied positions to which he called them. It was against this background that I read the letter/statement put out by the Urban Development Corporation in response to the strictures laid upon that statutory body by the Contractor General in the Whitehouse scandal. In that letter/statement put out by a statutory body established under the laws of Jamaica to serve the public's interest, the corporation seeks wriggle room to manoeuvre away from accountability and responsibility.
I would refer the writer of that letter to read the Report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Kendal Train Crash 1957 to understand the concepts of public accountability and a public official's responsibility and see the punishment inflicted for failures. It is not enough for one figure on a statutory body to resign in the wake of a public scandal; the entire board carries the stigma.
I am, etc.,
MIDDLETON WILSON
middletonwilson@bellsouth.net
Via Go-Jamaica
