The Editor, Sir:

It is with great concern that I write this letter regarding the imbroglio between the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) and the Ministry of Finance.

Greg Christie, as per usual, is attempting to carry out his duties as he interprets them and it appears that Minister of Finance Audley Shaw wants to circumvent or bend the rules that were put in place to protect the taxpayer from the temptation of corruption and unethical behaviour.

Reducing transparency

I have to ask, with almost comical disbelief, is this the man who, while in opposition, was (rightly so) the thorn in the side of the People's National Party government with regard to their lack of transparency and nepotistic handling of the public purse? Is this one and the same person?

Transparency and accountability are the cornerstones of good governance and any attempt to reduce or circumvent their entrenchment in our systems of government must be viewed with healthy scepticism and, dare I say, outright indignation.

I assume that, in the face of the current global economic turmoil, the Government might take some kind of paternalistic view that they must be given free rein to do as they please with the two key economic sectors of energy and tourism.

However, it is precisely because of the serious nature of the current global challenges that we must make every effort to use the systems of checks and balances to ensure that fairness, probity and good sense prevail.

'Walk the talk'

I am a huge sceptic of both our political parties. I also strongly believe that a complete overhaul of this political system which continues to exploit the poor and uneducated is needed.

I, however, had hoped that Bruce Golding and his administration would have at least made an attempt to "walk the talk" regarding transparency, given the fact that his administration is barely a year old.

I fear that I might have been too optimistic. May God protect us from the repeated mistakes of our elected officials.

I am, etc.,

PETER E.T. EDWARDS

PhD candidate (marine policy)

College of Marine and Earth Studies

University of Delaware

Via Go-Jamaica