by Jean Lowrie-Chin
 |
| Professor Trevor Munroe |
Jamaica Observer column excerpt - Mon 4 November 2013: Many businesses have stopped tendering when certain entities contact
them. I understand that the disease of corruption has spread to some of
the most unexpected places, as there are individuals 'harvesting' the
best ideas they can find to give their friends, or insisting on
under-the-table arrangements.
Corruption is evident when you notice managers almost hostile to honest,
hard-working companies, constantly cutting their budgets, while overly
chummy with big-budget colleagues who get away with sloppy, expensive
work.
In this tough future, not only must business owners try to forget past
injustices, but also to work with these very 'pirates', as we fight,
tooth and nail, to protect the jobs of hard-working employees.
When I asked a colleague who recently lost several contracts based on
manufactured reasons if I could mention the company in my column, I was
told: "Are you crazy? I don't want to get shot."
Professor Trevor Munroe, head of the National Integrity Action (NIA),
had the distinction of being chosen to be a speaker at the Rhodes Trust
110th anniversary commemoration of the Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford
University, in late September. His topic was 'Fighting the World's
Fight -- Against Corruption for Integrity'.
"Both the signs and the consequences of corruption tell us why this has
to be the world's fight," said Professor Munroe. He noted:
"According to the World Bank, over one trillion dollars are paid in
bribes each year by the private sector to secure contracts and
permits... One consequence: faulty construction often leading to
buildings collapsing; another, permits being given to build in areas
damaging to the environment...
He also mentioned that "at the non-governmental level, the World Council
of Churches, bringing together church fellowships in 110 countries...
and representing more than 500 million Christians is supporting a global
call to action against corruption".
"The World Council of Churches has issued a call in which they state
'illegal tax evasion will be responsible for 5.6 million children dying
in developing countries between 2000 and 2015'. In Jamaica this illegal
tax evasion is depriving government of funds to properly equip
hospitals, stock clinics, provide more meals for deprived
schoolchildren, etc."
The church in Jamaica has more power than it probably realise. Should
the church decide to address this issue of corruption with energy, I
believe it could usher in a sea change for Jamaica. Do not wimp out,
dear church colleagues -- the account of Jesus's expulsion of illicit
moneylenders from God's temple should inspire us all.
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