Getting rid of 'white collar' crime

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE RECENT focus on gang wars and violence in Kingston has caused me to reflect on the effect that crime and violence has on this country. In doing so, I gave consideration to the fact that there is a greater wrong that has been done to this country. The perpetrators of this horrendous crime should be pursued not only through the courts but through proper investigative journalism, as would have been done in developed countries.

I speak of the improper management that resulted in the financial crisis in the 1990s. As far as I am concerned this has had a more far-reaching effect on our country and will continue to affect us for years to come. This is the crime of the century and should be the one that the media and all the civic organisations focus on to find out who are the guilty ones and demand that they are brought to justice. It is this crime that has caused economic hardships, which must reflect into the violent crimes we are experiencing.

In the same way that there is a public outcry against the recent violent crimes there should be a similar outcry against 'white-collar' crime. We should have also had a Commission of Enquiry into the financial crisis of the 1990s. There was no public outcry for this though and it is only a reflection of how easily we accepted this and instead blame FINSAC and the government. Again we focus on the symptoms rather than the cause.

This is the continuing problem of lack of proper journalism and responsibility in this country. This is what is destroying us. When we speak about crime we must understand that crimes of the mind can sometimes be more consequential than violent crimes. It is these crimes that affect to a greater degree the cultural behaviour of our country because it seems more acceptable than the violent crimes and so is unconsciously accepted and followed by many and this affects the lives of still many others.

We only have to drive on the roads to see the indiscipline that permeates the society. Where we see fraud and other 'white collar' crimes being committed we must speak out against it because it is the acceptance of this that will negate against our fight against other forms of crime. I think that we need not only to punish the perpetrators of violent crimes but just as importantly those committing 'white collar' crimes.

I commend the efforts of the government in establishing a 'white collar' crime unit, the 2001 Companies Act and the Corruption Prevention Act. Let us each take responsibility for every incident of white collar crime that we become aware of and deal with it in a manner similar to how we expect violent crimes to be dealt with. Only then can we truly change attitudes positively, live in comfort and prevent the destruction of our country.

I am etc,

DENNIS CHUNG

dennischung@visto.com

Via Go-Jamaica

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