PUBLISHED: Dennis Minott | Amplified Indecency: A Critique of How Jamaica Governs Itself

Published: Sunday | December 8, 2024 | 12:07 AM

Credit: Mingtiandi Intelligence -- Six Tons Of Evidence: Eric Chu Nap Kee facing a less festive audience.

Jamaica, a physically gorgeous land full of soul and liveliness, faces an insidious and death-delivering challenge: the deep-seated and worsening chronic disease of corruption within its governance.

Let us delve into how the Jamaican State’s actions often amplify indecency, to our collective detriment, and let us underscore the transformational actions essential to building the level of public trust required for lasting social and economic progress. We will explore the historical roots, systemic failures, and societal consequences of this pervasive problem, drawing insights from the provided sources: https://integrity.gov.jm/investigation-reports and https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024/09/10/corruption-nightmare/ .

HISTORICAL LEGACY AND EMBEDDED CORRUPTION

The roots of corruption in Jamaica stretch back to the days of slavery and the colonial era, where governance structures served the interests of a foreign elite rather than the local population. This instilled a culture where political power became a tool for personal gain, a mentality that brazenly persisted after emancipation and only dimmed minimally at independence. Decades of political dominance by a few powerful families further cemented this system, where nepotism, patronage, and the misuse or abuse of public resources became normalised practices.

Corruption in modern Jamaica goes beyond a mere undercurrent; it shapes decision-making at all levels. Opaque public procurement processes award contracts based on political connections rather than merit, leading to inflated costs, subpar work, and incomplete projects that don’t benefit the public. This blatant disregard for accountability fosters a culture of impunity, where corrupt officials face minimal consequences.

The politicisation of public institutions further amplifies the problem. Public servants often owe their positions to political affiliation, creating loyalty to the party over the people they serve. This infiltration of key institutions like the police and regulatory bodies undermines public trust, leaving citizens feeling disillusioned and powerless.

MEDIA’S ROLE: WATCHDOG OR ENABLER?

The Jamaican media plays a complex role in the amplification of corruption. While it can serve as a powerful watchdog, exposing wrongdoing and holding officials accountable. It can also inadvertently contribute to the problem. Sensationalist reporting often focuses on individual scandals rather than systemic issues, distracting from the root causes of corruption. In some cases, media outlets may be complicit in corrupt practices, either through accepting bribes or by failing to investigate thoroughly.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND CYCLE OF CORRUPTION

The public’s perception of corruption is shaped by both media coverage and lived experiences. As corruption becomes normalised, citizens have become resigned to it, leading to a decline in civic engagement and a weakened sense of accountability. This apathy further empowers corrupt officials, perpetuating the cycle of corruption.

DEVASTATING IMPACT ON SOCIETY

The consequences of rampant corruption are far-reaching. Misallocation of resources diverts funds from essential services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure, hindering development and promoting inequality. Corruption erodes public trust in institutions, leading to a breakdown in social cohesion and hindering economic growth. It also fosters a culture of cynicism, where some individuals routinely resort to unethical means to achieve their goals, further exacerbating the problem.

BREAKING THE CYCLE

To break the cycle of corruption, Jamaica must implement a comprehensive reform agenda. This effort should focus on strengthening the country’s official anti-corruption agencies, namely, the Integrity Commission, the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), the Financial Investigations Division (FID), the Revenue Protection Division (RPD), the Jamaica Customs Agency, the Auditor General’s Department, and the Attorney General’s Chambers (DPP). These entities must be empowered with the resources and authority needed to investigate and prosecute corruption cases effectively. As one citizen (bc) today wisely commented; Dr. Minott, " The oversight offices you mentioned , IC, MOCA etc. need to have a caveat in their employment processes that would force changes in personnel in many strategic positions so that no one person can hold that position for more than X years. They may be rotated to similar institutions using their much-needed skills, but they cannot hold office in the same institution "forever".

This will demand political will.

Transparency and accountability should be prioritised through robust measures such as mandatory public disclosure of government contracts and financial records. Additionally, fostering a culture of integrity and ethical leadership is essential. This can be achieved through initiatives like civic education, mandatory Compassionate and Emotional Learning (mCEL) programmes, public-awareness campaigns, and the promotion of ethical behaviour across all sectors of society.

Finally, international collaboration and support can provide valuable expertise and resources, further strengthening Jamaica’s efforts to combat corruption and uphold good governance.

Jamaica’s struggle with corruption is a complex issue with deep historical roots. While the Government has taken some decidedly fenke-fenke steps to address the indecency problem, more decisive action is needed to break the cycle of corruption and build a more just and equitable society. By strengthening institutions, promoting transparency, and fostering a culture of integrity, Jamaica can overcome this challenge and realise its full potential. And above all, we must double down on mCEL in all layers -- K to 12 in our young peoples’ schools --without delay.

Waller, Bourne, Minto, and Rapley’s CAPRI Study on this topic is such a much-needed read: https://www.capricaribbean.org/sites/default/files/documents/r0701a-landscape-assessment-political-corruption-jamaica200706.pdf

COMPARISONS WITH VIETNAM

Billionairing in corrupt Vietnam and similarly corrupt Jamaica yields starkly different consequences though both nations are plagued by similar systemic indecency issues.

Firesale Funds Insufficient to Meet Bond Payments

Vietnamese property tycoon Truong My Lan (C) looks on at a court in Ho Chi Minh city, April 11, 2024, where she was sentenced to death in one of the country's biggest fraud cases, with damages estimated at $27 billion.

I believe most are unaware that Vietnam and Jamaica have long been comparable in corruption rankings, sharing the global spotlight for systemic failures. Vietnam, with a 2023 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score of 42/100, recently delivered a chilling reminder of the price of unchecked corruption. Tycoon Truong My Lan, former chair of Van Thinh Phat Group and effective owner of Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB), was sentenced to death for orchestrating a $12.5 billion fraud that devastated tens of thousands. Vietnam’s Supreme Court upheld her sentence, signalling an unrelenting, albeit shadowed, anti-corruption crusade. The world may soon witness her execution unless clemency intervenes – a stark symbol of justice served harshly in Hanoi.

Jamaica, scoring slightly higher at 44/100, tells a quieter, more ominous tale. Here, elite corruption endures under lax accountability. No Jamaican billionaire has faced equivalent reckoning. As the Integrity Commission struggles against entrenched collusion, one wonders: Could Jamaica’s impunity someday erupt into its own reckoning?

According to Transparency International’s 2023 Annual Report: For the fourth consecutive year, the Americas scores an average of 43 out of 100 in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). A lack of bold, decisive action to fight corruption and strengthen public institutions is fuelling organised criminal activities, undermining democracy and human rights, and threatening the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is, in turn, sparking violence, environmental damage and migration across the hemisphere.

Dennis Minott, PhD, is the CEO of A-QuEST-FAIR. He is a multilingual green resources specialist, a research physicist, and a modest mathematician who worked in the oil and energy sector. Send feedback to a_quest57@yahoo.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.