Crime and criminal activity are at intolerable proportions—throw in the high level of corruption and white collar crimes that go unpunished. One can only wonder if here in T&T we are on the verge of moral anarchy. Nepotism, cronyism, clientelism, rent seeking, favouritism, kickbacks and embezzlement are all forms of corruption, as is kleptocracy and large scale corruption where those with political connections unfairly gain large wealth. The construct of centralised power and authority rather than the principle of subsidiarity fuel corruption and its myriad forms. The definition of corruption is broad but its effect is singular, whether proven or an assumed fact. Whether our leaders make the right calls on crime, public spending, the economic and fiscal strategy, education reform, or not will determine the future of our country for the next decade or more and shape the kind of society we want to be. Far from learning from history we seem bent on repeating the mistakes of our history as dissenting voices are silenced or ignored.
We must learn from mistakes of policymaking, economic and political misjudgements. Adopting the consensus view may be the safe and easy thing to do, but it does not make it the right thing to do. We can ill afford to have a narrow view, vision or interests. Given a multiplicity of competing visions and interests, it rests to those in charge to alter the focus from the current status quo to the future of our country and society. Corruption here has created a moral hazard and the tolerance of those who are corrupt and or corruptible has intensified the moral hazard. Recently Karl Hudson-Phillip, QC, in an address at the AGM of Transparency International, made the point that since 1973 he has sought to articulate the dangers of accepting, tolerating and condoning corruption. Forty years hence, diagnosing the real problems and proposing a path forward appear insurmountable.
Corruption diverts time, money and energy. It institutionalizes inefficiency and waste. Sport has suffered at the hands of corruption. Our young sportsmen and women are paying the price. While the argument that there will always be corruption and crime is repeatedly made. It ought not to mean that we should tolerate and turn a blind eye or should fear the consequences of whistle blowing.
Stop rationalising and making heroes and role models of those who we know, even if it cannot be proven, to be corrupt. Maybe corruption itself is neither helpful nor hurtful. It’s our response to it that can either help or hurt. Corruption cannot be a way of life and the damage corruption inflicts goes unheeded as the material benefits are amassed. It affects the poorest the most but everyone even those who are corrupt experience the negative consequences of corruption. Available literature on corruption in Africa and Asia and the efforts to fight it are instructive. The damage inflicted on nations in the African continent should serve as a warning. Recently I was reading about the corruption in India and the groundswell of anti-corruption efforts by a fed up civil society to address the issue. Reports indicate that since its independence in 1947 India has lost more than 400 billion dollars to illegal transfers with the current annual estimates alleged to be 20 billion. Of all the solutions proposed to deal with corruption, the most powerful one was individual and personal responsibility as a starting point beginning with the question “am I incorruptible?" Winning the battle against corruption should count for something.
-Brian Lewis
Source: www.guardian.co.tt