The Editor, Sir:

There are few public figures in our society who have earned our respect over the recent past like Danville Walker, currently cast in the role of Commissioner of Customs. In his recent tongue-lashing, delivered to local importers for improprieties regarding invoicing of goods, the commissioner called no names but spared no consciences in his blistering address:

"We are not here to be your prostitutes who you pay for a service while, at the same time, look at us with disdain. The sophistication of your schemes and the complicity of some govern-ment regulations that allow you to operate with impunity place you into the same boat as smugglers and other criminals who weaken our nation every day."

Threats to officers

Citing the under-invoicing of goods and the issuance of threats to customs officers upholding the department rules and regulations, Commissioner Walker points to the 'culture of privilege' that has invaded the institution through the sense of entitlement bred by importers across the breadth of the social spectrum, brought about, I might add, by our chronic aversion to dealing with issues before they become insurmountable.

Noticeable in the commissioner's reading of the riot act, however, is the absence of any comment pertaining to those within his own department who have, without a doubt, enjoyed the proceeds of corruption. It is to be presumed that he is conducting his own in-house sanitisation under immense pressure, as one can well imagine the resentment now that 'dolly house mash up'.

Commissioner Walker's, forcefulness will definitely incur the ill-will, perhaps even the wrath, of those within and without the department, who may have for years benefited from defrauding the government coffers of the revenue indispensable to financing the nation's budget.

We need more public servants of Greg Christie's ilk, if we are to achieve these ideals.

Correcting the system

It is fervently hoped that the commissioner's efforts to correct the ills in the system are not met with the likes of those detractors who 'wanted his head' in his former position as director of elections, when he performed the most arduous task of reforming the island's electoral system which had been for years riddled with loopholes. He should be given every encouragement in this new venture, without regard for the 'corns' he will be sure to 'mash' in the process.

If uprooting corruption is to be realised and not remain vain rhetoric, the valiant efforts of public servants like Commis-sioner Walker need to be lauded. His appeal sets a standard which should be emulated by all ministerial heads, as it sends a clear message of zero tolerance of the corrosive practices that have been winked at for decades, and should serve as a political bellwether for the Golding administration.

I am, etc.,

KADENE PORTER

kadene26@hotmail.com