Published: Tuesday | October 8, 2024 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Dr Horace Chang’s call for a “balanced approach” to unexplained wealth orders (UWOs) comes across as a well-constructed trap, one that subtly cloaks the real elephant in the room: Jamaica’s deepening corruption and our leaders’ well-rehearsed hypocrisy. People, no mek Horace lamps yuh up with his talk of protecting constitutional rights, privacy, and property. That rhetoric masks a more troubling reality: the preservation of untouchable wealth, potentially amassed through illicit means.
As the Government hastens to soften the Integrity Commission’s (IC’s) legislative teeth and backpedals on UWOs, the timing is curious, especially when viewed alongside Dr Nigel Clarke’s imminent transition to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These decelerations and reversals raise fundamental questions about our nation’s commitment to accountability. Clarke’s upcoming IMF role – an undeniably prestigious appointment – sits in sharp contrast to the weakening of Jamaica’s anti-corruption framework.
Chang has pointed to the UK’s implementation of UWOs, where they have been applied sparingly, primarily targeting politically exposed persons (PEPs) and high-value individuals. Ask yourself: Why the hesitation in Jamaica? Why now, when the legislation is needed most, are the highest echelons of our leadership retreating behind constitutional curtains, claiming to safeguard the public while sidestepping accountability? This is not about balance. It’ is about ensuring that PEPs and the elite remain protected under the guise of constitutionalism.
And what of Dr Clarke? While his financial stewardship is rightly lauded by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, the Government’s apparent weakening stance on corruption could not have come at a worse time. Should these actions trigger red flags from international bodies like the Financial Action Task Force, Nigel’s ability to champion transparency at the IMF could be compromised. Jamaica’s reputation, hard-won after years of fiscal prudence, now teeters on a precipice. What happens if the IMF begins to see Jamaica not as a shining example, but as a case of a country wilting under the weight of internal corruption?
This isn’t just about Dr Clarke’s personal credibility. His new IMF role places him in a unique position of influence, particularly when advocating for developing nations and small island states. But how can he lead by example on the global stage if Jamaica’s own anti-corruption efforts are crumbling beneath him?
In times like these, I recall my late ‘Uncle’ Eddy’s musings on “overthrow and underthrow”. Are we unwittingly sabotaging the future of one of our brightest sons, Dr Clarke, by dilly-dallying with UWOs and legislative reforms? In attempting to protect the privileged, is Jamaica jeopardizing its global financial standing and undermining the very institutions meant to ensure fairness and justice for all?
People, stay woke! No mek Horace an’ dem lamps yuh up with sandflies while elephants of corruption trample our national integrity. Nigel’s global future, and Jamaica’s, are inextricably linked to the choices we make today.
by DENNIS MINOTT, PhD.
COMMENTS:
Dr. Horace Chang resign, do the honorable thing, let the past be in the past, turn a new page and live an honorable life.
What a nerve tho', when a poor person is caught as an alleged scammer, or otherwise, being found with large amounts of cash, he is brought to justice post haste and all of his belongings are confiscated, but when it comes to the leaders or those in authority in the Country, appoint as many lawyers, do everything in one's power to evade investigations and use all type of tactics to evade the laws of the Country.
What a nerve, Dr. Horace Chang should remain quiet and allow the designated Board or whatever carry out the functions of their job. Leave well alone, Dr. Chang. You have lost the moral authority to guide or instruct anyone of what they should do. We are still asking you when will you leave Office, seems the people are eager to see the back of you, not hear from you. You have lost my respect.
I honestly believe that over the years neither party have been willing to properly hold the other to account in moral wrongs. Or there would be strong Laws in place to render worthy punishment..Maybe intentionally, so that each side can get its turn to engage in same or worst actions .And who is to blame? The local voters for sure, whom seem to think no wrong is too much if done by my side .Ordinary Jamaicans, please, even without any Integrity Commission, should be able to demand honesty /FairPlay/morality and rule of Law from those you trust, so if not from our politicians, who? The criminals? Fight for your country from those who seem more interested in bringing it to decay.. It is our country, as Belafonte declared.
This is my island in the sun
Where my people have toiled since time begun,
I may sail on many a sea
Her shores will always be home to me
Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, waters
Y our shining sand.
.
Don't worry. The public has seen through Chang's charade and can't wait to see them go. Poor Jamaica.
It makes no sense to spend tens of millions investigaging the source of $1.9. This is a big waste of tax dollars.
wisdom40 Mutty Perkins10 hours ago
so to you a nuh nutten, let just get on with what we are doing, disgraceful!!
Maude Cooper Mutty Perkins 3 days ago
It make sense to spend however amount to get to the facts/truth..And if wrong doings were uncovered, then fix it by confiscating property and whatever, so the next time such happens it is straight to prison. We should not be given reason to search.
mama-ess Mutty Perkins4 days ago
Don’t you think integrity matters? It would have mattered to the real Motty Perkins.
K
A lot of us have drank and are now drunk on the coolade of 'corruption'. It began a few years ago, quite early in the te ure of the current administration when Peter Buntin declared that this was the most corrupt government in Jamaica's history.That declaration was not much more than an opening salvo in what has been a relentlessly sustained campaign to demonize the Prime Minister, which has been familiar and previously successful strategy of the PNP practised against former JLP leaders.In this iteration, the campaign has been infinitely more intense. It even involves so-called diaspora groups staging demonstrations on american soil against our country and its leaders, backed up with promises of position under a future pnp government. These so-called diaspora groups also forms part of an army of social media mercenaries who puts in vast numbers of hours of hours daily and weekly spewing anti Andrew rhetoric.They bombard their viewers and listeners with half truth based propaganda about massive corruption taking p,ace left right and center. They have even declared that 1.7 trillion have been stolen.Empirically there is no more than about four or five potentially genuine cases of major corruption incidents, none of which have been conclusively proven through judicial or other processes. But you wouldn't think so from the constant noise about corruption.We need to step back from this word-frenzy about corruption. Truth be told, there is far less corruption now than in the previous administration and there is also far stronger institutions to fight it. So let us not get caught up in the deliberately spun wirlwind which was designed for political purposes. As to the Integrity Commission, we need to take a close honest and unbiased look at their role in all of this.
I’m sure that you Granny would be ashamed at your trumpish response. What is it you don’t get?
#28 refused to give the IC required financial information they needed. Refused. He could stop all this speculation immediately by complying and also listing the names of those in the House who are were named for illicit corruption. Simple isn’t it?
Yes now Spanish Town Granny gonna beat you upside down!
Clinton Miller 4 days ago
We have seen the retreating behind constitutional curtains before one such episode of which resulted in the incursion in West Kingston.
mama-ess Clinton Miller4 days ago
You are so right! Thank you for this reminder
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