Shine a light on corruption

Dear Editor,

I refer to your Sunday Observer front page story. A Duhaney Park woman told the newspaper that she had to pay $3,500 to obtain and reinstall lines that were earlier taken down by a Jamaica Public Service crew, accompanied by the police, months ago: "Mi did need the light. Mi caan do without it, because mi have young baby and mi need the fan and the fridge in particular," she said, adding that getting regularised was not something that she could do now because she would not be able to afford it, based on how much she earns.

There are so many things wrong with these statements from the article:

1. Why does she have immediate access to an informal solution rooted in corruption?

2. Why is it no penalties exist for this behaviour?

3. Why does she speak about access to a fridge and fan like it is a basic human right?

We can learn from this that the complete solutions, new legislation and stiffer penalties must deal with corruption in Jamaica as a significant factor undermining our progress as a nation.

Hanif McFarlane

hanif@att.net

Shine a light on corruption

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