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<SPAN class=Subheadline>HEART TO HEART</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Betty Ann Blaine
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
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<P class=StoryText align=justify>Dear Reader,<P class=StoryText align=justify>If there is one thing I can say with certainty about Jamaicans, is that we may be poor, but we have pride, and even while things are falling apart at home we will never deliberately wash our dirty linen in public, let alone before the whole world. So we will put our best foot forward for Cricket World Cup and exhibit the type of hospitality and graciousness that make us the unique people that we are. The truth is that while there may be little or no short-term financial benefits to be gained from the event, there is an inherent value that cannot be measured in dollars and cents that countries accrue, simply by being hosts of any major tournament. For Jamaica to have been chosen as the venue for Cricket World Cup is an honour, and our nation will undoubtedly rise to the occasion.<P class=StoryText align=justify>To expect, however, that our people are so shallow and fickle to forget that there are very serious problems lurking beneath the surface of the facade and glamour of Cricket World Cup is asking too much of Jamaicans. The fact is that no amount of cricket varnish can remove the stain of the various scandals that have beset the governing party, in particular, the nagging Trafigura issue. The eyes of the world may be on us, but the hearts and minds of many Jamaicans are focused on the resolution of the very serious Trafigura matter.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The announcement that the Dutch authorities intend to probe the matter is welcome news. It's about time. I am somewhat curious, however, as to where the major focus of the investigation will be conducted. It seems to me that way ahead of a visit to Jamaica, should be an intense scrutiny of Trafigura in its home country. A trip to Jamaica should simply be to verify the details already garnered from the Dutch government's domestic investigation, and to fit the last pieces of the puzzle together. I sincerely hope it is not a case of maligning Jamaica while Holland looks good.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Any way you cut it, the present government looks bad, and if the government looks bad, we the people look bad too. For our country to be investigated by a foreign government for potential corruption is in and of itself disgraceful, and our government must be held accountable for the stigma already attached to Jamaica over this matter. There is a certain hypocrisy in asking us to put on a good show for Cricket World Cup, when there is a looming side show named Trafigura that is also available for the world to see.<P class=StoryText align=justify>As much as the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party has been "reaping the windfall" from Trafigura, the issue transcends party politics and should be of concern to every Jamaican. It speaks to our dignity and self-respect, and challenges the accepted morals and ethics of the nation. It's not just the PNP that has lost its credibility, it's all of us, because in democracies the government reflects the will of the people.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The problem with Jamaica is that we have had one single government in power for almost two decades, albeit via the democratic process. It is usually only under totalitarian regimes that any one group of people get to enjoy so much time in power. That type of tenure is inherently dangerous. It is not only that the elected officials begin to suffer from "governing fatigue" which results in intellectual and creative stagnation, but the length of time in office lends itself to corruption. When a political party controls the seat of power for four consecutive terms, then along the way secures control of the commanding heights of the economy, which Finsac facilitated, then we are left with absolute power, and everyone knows that absolute power corrupts absolutely
<SPAN class=Subheadline>HEART TO HEART</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Betty Ann Blaine
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>Dear Reader,<P class=StoryText align=justify>If there is one thing I can say with certainty about Jamaicans, is that we may be poor, but we have pride, and even while things are falling apart at home we will never deliberately wash our dirty linen in public, let alone before the whole world. So we will put our best foot forward for Cricket World Cup and exhibit the type of hospitality and graciousness that make us the unique people that we are. The truth is that while there may be little or no short-term financial benefits to be gained from the event, there is an inherent value that cannot be measured in dollars and cents that countries accrue, simply by being hosts of any major tournament. For Jamaica to have been chosen as the venue for Cricket World Cup is an honour, and our nation will undoubtedly rise to the occasion.<P class=StoryText align=justify>To expect, however, that our people are so shallow and fickle to forget that there are very serious problems lurking beneath the surface of the facade and glamour of Cricket World Cup is asking too much of Jamaicans. The fact is that no amount of cricket varnish can remove the stain of the various scandals that have beset the governing party, in particular, the nagging Trafigura issue. The eyes of the world may be on us, but the hearts and minds of many Jamaicans are focused on the resolution of the very serious Trafigura matter.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The announcement that the Dutch authorities intend to probe the matter is welcome news. It's about time. I am somewhat curious, however, as to where the major focus of the investigation will be conducted. It seems to me that way ahead of a visit to Jamaica, should be an intense scrutiny of Trafigura in its home country. A trip to Jamaica should simply be to verify the details already garnered from the Dutch government's domestic investigation, and to fit the last pieces of the puzzle together. I sincerely hope it is not a case of maligning Jamaica while Holland looks good.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Any way you cut it, the present government looks bad, and if the government looks bad, we the people look bad too. For our country to be investigated by a foreign government for potential corruption is in and of itself disgraceful, and our government must be held accountable for the stigma already attached to Jamaica over this matter. There is a certain hypocrisy in asking us to put on a good show for Cricket World Cup, when there is a looming side show named Trafigura that is also available for the world to see.<P class=StoryText align=justify>As much as the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party has been "reaping the windfall" from Trafigura, the issue transcends party politics and should be of concern to every Jamaican. It speaks to our dignity and self-respect, and challenges the accepted morals and ethics of the nation. It's not just the PNP that has lost its credibility, it's all of us, because in democracies the government reflects the will of the people.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The problem with Jamaica is that we have had one single government in power for almost two decades, albeit via the democratic process. It is usually only under totalitarian regimes that any one group of people get to enjoy so much time in power. That type of tenure is inherently dangerous. It is not only that the elected officials begin to suffer from "governing fatigue" which results in intellectual and creative stagnation, but the length of time in office lends itself to corruption. When a political party controls the seat of power for four consecutive terms, then along the way secures control of the commanding heights of the economy, which Finsac facilitated, then we are left with absolute power, and everyone knows that absolute power corrupts absolutely
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