Byron Buckley, News Editor
MOST JAMAICANS believe there is more corruption among public sector employees today than five years ago. This despite Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's insistence that his administration has steadfastly implemented anti-corruption measures during his 13-year rule,
According to a Gleaner-commissioned Don Anderson poll, 91 per cent of persons 18 years and older believe corruption has increased during the five-year period.
Anderson and his team from Market Research Services Limited conducted the survey between February 3 and 11, 2005 among 1,000 persons. The findings have a margin of error of + or - 3.2 per cent.
"The sample was highly representative of all the various demographic groups of age, gender and socio-economic group and the findings are, therefore, indicative of the national opinions of people within each of these segments," Anderson commented.
The survey findings indicate that the society is not feeling the impact of the various measures Prime Minister Patterson says he has introduced during the life of his 13-year administration to combat corruption.
"We have moved decisively to put the institutional framework in place that would avoid corruption, that would detect it and that would put in place the punitive measures that are necessary for those who are impeached," Patterson told Gleaner editors last month.
But only a handful of persons nine per cent interviewed by Anderson's team said corruption had declined over the period under review.
QUASI-ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES
According to the pollster, corruption embraces a range of actions including extortion, public and private sector dishonesty, underhand deal making, granting of favours in return for patronage and other similar quasi-illegal activities.
In the interview with Gleaner editors, Mr. Patterson alluded to the role that private individuals and organisations play in corrupting public officials.
"...We have to build within the society a culture of intolerance for corrupt action," he argued. "I have always said, and repeat, in any corrupt act, two sides are involved not only the person who receives, but also the person who who gives or who offers."
However, only a quarter of the persons interviewed by Anderson's team, blamed the private sector for the rise in corruption, while 70 per cent are convinced that the public sector has shown "a greater propensity for corrupt practices."
"This was a view that was held by all groups, irrespective of age or social class," Anderson observed.
Transparency International, the Berlin-based corruption watchdog, rated Jamaica 3.3 on its 2004 Corruption Perceptions Index, the approximate position the country has held in successive reports. Finland, rated 9.7, was the least corrupt country on the 2004 index, while Haiti and Bangladesh were the most corrupt, scoring 1.5.
