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Friday, March 12, 2010
The contractor general, Mr Greg Christie, took what he said was an unusual step in passing on to the media a breaking news story which had been sent to him, minutes before, by his colleagues at the Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday.
The story regarded the conviction of Mr Sheiku Koroma, the former Sierra Leone minister of health and sanitation, on corruption charges related to Government procurement and contracting issues.
According to Mr Christie, his motive in passing on the story was to encourage us to "give deep thought to similar issues with which we are currently faced here in Jamaica, particularly as they relate to matters which have to do with public procurement and government contracting and the abuse of office on the part of those in whom the Jamaican taxpayer has reposed his/her confidence".
Additionally, Mr Christie pointed out, the story, which may be found at http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/6426 and http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/2417, speaks to "the unbelievable expedition with which matters, such as corruption offences, which are deemed to be gravely inimical to the public interest, are dealt with in other jurisdictions which are demonstrably serious about tackling corruption".
We suspect that there is more to Mr Christie's communication than meets the eye, given his recent report concerning the air service agreement between Jamaica and American Airlines (AA).
According to Mr Christie, the deal which guaranteed AA US$4.5 million for continued airlift, was improperly arrived at, chiefly via Mr Edmund Bartlett, the tourism minister, behind the Cabinet's back.
True to form, Mr Bartlett responded with speed and eloquence, pointing out that the deal was transparent and above board.
His response was met with even more stinging feedback from Mr Christie who has refused to take anything back.
This space is not going to get into this particular aspect of that controversy today.
Suffice it to say that every well-thinking Jamaican has a duty to take an active interest in the issues raised by the contractor general.
All of us have a stake in this country that needs to be defended through the appropriate constitutional channels.
Let us not indulge in the type of unproductive bickering that has never and will never get us anywhere.
Corruption is, as Mr Christie said in yesterday's communiqué, literally strangling Jamaica to death.
If we turn a blind eye to it, if we choose not to get involved, we will surely suffer and ultimately die.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...--2010_7479636
The contractor general, Mr Greg Christie, took what he said was an unusual step in passing on to the media a breaking news story which had been sent to him, minutes before, by his colleagues at the Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday.
The story regarded the conviction of Mr Sheiku Koroma, the former Sierra Leone minister of health and sanitation, on corruption charges related to Government procurement and contracting issues.
According to Mr Christie, his motive in passing on the story was to encourage us to "give deep thought to similar issues with which we are currently faced here in Jamaica, particularly as they relate to matters which have to do with public procurement and government contracting and the abuse of office on the part of those in whom the Jamaican taxpayer has reposed his/her confidence".
Additionally, Mr Christie pointed out, the story, which may be found at http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/6426 and http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/2417, speaks to "the unbelievable expedition with which matters, such as corruption offences, which are deemed to be gravely inimical to the public interest, are dealt with in other jurisdictions which are demonstrably serious about tackling corruption".
We suspect that there is more to Mr Christie's communication than meets the eye, given his recent report concerning the air service agreement between Jamaica and American Airlines (AA).
According to Mr Christie, the deal which guaranteed AA US$4.5 million for continued airlift, was improperly arrived at, chiefly via Mr Edmund Bartlett, the tourism minister, behind the Cabinet's back.
True to form, Mr Bartlett responded with speed and eloquence, pointing out that the deal was transparent and above board.
His response was met with even more stinging feedback from Mr Christie who has refused to take anything back.
This space is not going to get into this particular aspect of that controversy today.
Suffice it to say that every well-thinking Jamaican has a duty to take an active interest in the issues raised by the contractor general.
All of us have a stake in this country that needs to be defended through the appropriate constitutional channels.
Let us not indulge in the type of unproductive bickering that has never and will never get us anywhere.
Corruption is, as Mr Christie said in yesterday's communiqué, literally strangling Jamaica to death.
If we turn a blind eye to it, if we choose not to get involved, we will surely suffer and ultimately die.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...--2010_7479636
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