Dear Editor,
After seven years of fighting corruption, Contractor General Greg Christie is calling it quits at the end of November 2012. If there is one Jamaican public servant who has worked tirelessly and impartially to curb the monster of corruption in government, Greg Christie is the one. Unfortunately, however, he is not quitting because he wants to, or because he cannot do the job. To my mind, he is quitting because inasmuch as he was installed by the government, ostensibly to fight corruption, they have refused his repeated requests for additional powers to get the job done effectively.
Greg Christie has been a breath of fresh air in a foul atmosphere of wheeling and dealing where the stench of systematic corruption rises in shameless plumes from one end of Jamaica to the next.
You know you are doing a good job when the PNP and the JLP are unable to accuse you of working on behalf of the other. I think of all the resistance that Mr Christie has encountered in doing his job, but none was as telling as when Dr Omar Davies set up an Independent Oversight Panel which seems to undercut or supersede the power of the contractor general. It seemed to give the impression that some are very fearful of the ruthless efficiency and impartiality of Greg Christie.
If Greg Christie had been contractor general in a country that shuns corruption, he would not have to leave the job he enjoys doing for Jamaica. Citizens would be in the streets protesting and demanding that the government give this man the tools to do the job, but not in Jamaica. In another country people would be calling for him to run for prime minister, but not in Jamaica.
By virtue of his erudition and expertise, you would think that Mr Christie would be attractive to the kingmakers, especially since we Jamaicans are fascinated with lettered leaders, but no, his discipline renders him unqualified to be a part of the “runnings”. We are scared of leaders who will make hard decisions in Jamaica's best interest. We seem to have developed an allergy for things that work well; things that will make us better in the long run. We just seem to have an aversion for things that are lawful and orderly.
Thank you, Mr Christie, for a job well done. Thank you for demonstrating unswerving integrity and an authentic desire to free us from the cruel tentacles of systematic corruption. You have set the bar high, but it is not out of reach of other Jamaicans, who like you, not only love Jamaica with words but with their hearts and character. You have run your leg of the race and we pray that we will find the same trust and confidence in the hands in which the baton will be placed. I wish you all the best as you shift gear to embark on other tough challenges.
Laval Wilkinson
lavalwilkinson@hotmail.com
After seven years of fighting corruption, Contractor General Greg Christie is calling it quits at the end of November 2012. If there is one Jamaican public servant who has worked tirelessly and impartially to curb the monster of corruption in government, Greg Christie is the one. Unfortunately, however, he is not quitting because he wants to, or because he cannot do the job. To my mind, he is quitting because inasmuch as he was installed by the government, ostensibly to fight corruption, they have refused his repeated requests for additional powers to get the job done effectively.
Greg Christie has been a breath of fresh air in a foul atmosphere of wheeling and dealing where the stench of systematic corruption rises in shameless plumes from one end of Jamaica to the next.
You know you are doing a good job when the PNP and the JLP are unable to accuse you of working on behalf of the other. I think of all the resistance that Mr Christie has encountered in doing his job, but none was as telling as when Dr Omar Davies set up an Independent Oversight Panel which seems to undercut or supersede the power of the contractor general. It seemed to give the impression that some are very fearful of the ruthless efficiency and impartiality of Greg Christie.
If Greg Christie had been contractor general in a country that shuns corruption, he would not have to leave the job he enjoys doing for Jamaica. Citizens would be in the streets protesting and demanding that the government give this man the tools to do the job, but not in Jamaica. In another country people would be calling for him to run for prime minister, but not in Jamaica.
By virtue of his erudition and expertise, you would think that Mr Christie would be attractive to the kingmakers, especially since we Jamaicans are fascinated with lettered leaders, but no, his discipline renders him unqualified to be a part of the “runnings”. We are scared of leaders who will make hard decisions in Jamaica's best interest. We seem to have developed an allergy for things that work well; things that will make us better in the long run. We just seem to have an aversion for things that are lawful and orderly.
Thank you, Mr Christie, for a job well done. Thank you for demonstrating unswerving integrity and an authentic desire to free us from the cruel tentacles of systematic corruption. You have set the bar high, but it is not out of reach of other Jamaicans, who like you, not only love Jamaica with words but with their hearts and character. You have run your leg of the race and we pray that we will find the same trust and confidence in the hands in which the baton will be placed. I wish you all the best as you shift gear to embark on other tough challenges.
Laval Wilkinson
lavalwilkinson@hotmail.com