Corruption in Jamaica threatens to erode the rule of law and social order.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in 2006 pledged to the Jamaican people
that she would work tirelessly to eradicate corruption from their society
(Waller, 2007.p.9) as it has become endemic. The Don Anderson poll and
other surveys have revealed that corruption is what is wrong with Jamaica
and it is also the perception of Transparency international as they have never
ranked Jamaica above 4 on any index with a scale of 1 to 10 (Monroe 2012).
To date Jamaica is still ranked high among the most corrupt countries in the
world. With this damaging image, the government has been grappling with
attracting international investors to do business in Jamaica. Scholars have
argued that the cause of corruption is the lack of transparency and
accountability. This has become very problematic for doing business in
Jamaica. Also, with the inefficiency of Government and bureaucratic red tape,
has led official to be accused of being corrupt. Often officials have bypassed
several processes to speed up the granting of contracts, license or other
government business, although there are laws, regulations and principles to
be followed when managing financial resources. To reduce accusations of
corruption, the government of Jamaica needs to improve accountability and
transparency when managing financial resources.

To reduce accusations of corruption while managing public financial

resources, is a tough battle which the government must fight to eradicate

the abuse of public office for private gain (Agere, 2000, p.8) or for partisan
advantage. Corruption denotes the payments of bribes for award of
contracts or the performances of functions which is the perversion of
integrity. Combating corruption would indicate that Prime Minister Simpson
miller is promoting good governance as government cannot survive no
matter how good their aims and intensions are if corruption exist in its public
sector especially those managing the finances.
When managing financial resources in Jamaica, there are clear laws,
regulations and policies in place to guide officials, these come in the form of
The FAA Act, the Financial Regulations and Procurements Policies and
Guidelines. Also, the Auditor General is appointed to examine all Government
Accounting books and report directly to Parliament. In managing the funds
there is a warrant system in place, no money cannot be withdrawn without it,
this was put in place to eliminate or minimize or the risk of corruption but
corrupt officials have found loop holes and this must be remedied. One way
of looking at corruption is to argue that corrupt officials exist because there
are those who corrupt them among the latter are foreign actors. (Turner&
Hulme, 1997.p. 103). This would come in the form of bribe to expedite the
processing of licenses, permits and the non compliance of tax payments.

To reduce accusations of corruption, the government of Jamaican needs to

improve accountability when managing financial resources, holding

responsible elected or appointed individuals and organization charged with

public mandate to account for specific actions (Agere2000, p.7). Officers
that are accountable should give answers to those who have a right to
demand answers such as the Public accounts Committee and the Auditor
General. Although the PAC was formed to hold public officials accountable,
they can only highlight the occurrences therefore scholars are of the opinion
that they have more barks than bites. The government can improve
accountability by gaining objective information, simplifying the process
through which they access information and to ensure clarity and then
implement rigorous law and policies to charge officials found in contravene
of these laws.
Consequently, in spite of the numerous accusations of corruption only two
successful prosecutions have taken place to date. Former Minister of Finance
DR. Omar Davies had misused the public funds to run election with the hope
that his party would have been re-elected, no one was held accountable in
this case or was any clarity given to this occurrence, instead he was given
another portfolio to manage. The mismanagement of Operation Pride, the
cost overrun of the Sandal White House project saw no one being held
accountable, no clarity was brought to any of these case officials were only
transfer and given other responsibilities. This government must see the need
to end this trend, since 2006 the Contractor Generals office have revealed
several cases with evidence of corruption (Monroe 2012) but to date Prime

Minister Portia Simpson Miller has not fulfilled any of her promised of
eradicating corruption from the Jamaican Society.

Furthermore, to reduce the accusations of corruption the government of

Jamaica needs to improve transparency when managing financial resources
by ensuring that the public is well informed of all government polices and
have confidence in their intensions, by this, making public accounts
verifiable, also providing ways for public participations in government
policymaking and their implementations(Agere 2000, p. 7-8). Transparency
really is the whole host of laws and regulations attitude and actions that goes
into making a democracy more open and honest. It must be built on the free
flow of information and a clearer process be established to inform those that
are concerned, also with the improvement of transparency the process would
enable concerned Jamaican Officials to monitor transactions, by having easy
access to information, this would in turn promote good governance and
enhance the democratic process through reporting and feedback. If
transparency was promoted in the UDC Sandals white House project and the
1966- 1968 school building project the high cost overrun and accusations of
corruption would not have taken place or maybe at a minimal level.
Information was not readily available and when questions were asked none
was answered with clarity, therefore persons were left to speculate which left
them to believed that corruption was at play. And had the project been

monitored effectively with a high level of transparency, more school would

have been built. This was concurred with the 1973 Dascosta Commission
Report which revealed gross overrun due to political corruptions. Statistics
can use to substantiate that there is a trend in this practice which must be
curtailed.
Certainly corruption is not a unique case to Jamaica, with this in mind the
government must take a proactive approach in eradicating corruption,
especially in the departments managing the financial resources as this is
distorting the development and economic growth of the country. In the fight
against corruption there are several areas that can be strengthened to
improve transparency and accountability. By doing so the government must
inform the public, ensuring that they are aware of what corruption is and the
various forms in which corruption occur. Educate the society on the
destructiveness of corruption on society and enhancing the decisive action
taken against corrupt officials while ensuring that they are brought before
the court.
Gaped all loop holes, improve accounting standards and institute sound
corporate governance system. Implement a code of conduct, streamline legal
and regulatory codes.
In conclusion, it is imperative that the government renew their call to
eradicate corruption by improving accountability and transparency as
corruption erodes authority and the effectiveness of any public institutions.

Corruption is threatening to topple the rule of law and social order with the
deterioration of Jamaicas image therefore the improvement of accountability
and transparency is imperative to attract investors and business confidence
and balance social order. Corruption is not good for any society as it erodes
any prospect of economic growth within a country.

References
Agere, S. (2000). Promoting good governance, principles, practice and
perspective. London: Commonwealth Secretariat.

Munroe, T. (2012, November 25). Reduce corruption, spur growth. The

Sunday Gleaner.
Turner, M. & Hulme, D. (1997). Governance , administration and
development: Making the state work. University of Michigan: Kumarian
Press.
Waller, L. Dr. Brown, P. & Rapley, J. (2007). A land scape assessment of
political corruption in Jamaica. CaPRI.