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Chairman of the GraceKennedy Group, Douglas Orane, yesterday called for an end to the links Government and businesses have with gangsters.

"I believe all well-thinking Jamaicans will agree that, in order to begin retaking our country, we must break the link between politicians and organised crime, which is at the root of the issue," Orane argued.

Contending that the nation was at a defining moment, Orane said: "We have to stop the flow of money to corrupt entities and individuals through the award of state contracts.

"We need to bring a level of probity to the process to require that persons who receive state contracts and subcontracts are subjected to fit and proper tests," he added.

Turning to his colleagues in the private sector, the GraceKennedy chairman said, "We need to demonstrate personal courage.

"One of the ways each of us can demonstrate personal courage in the future is to be very explicit about who are the people with whom we will associate," he said.

Orane, who was speaking at a Rotary Club of St Andrew meeting, also called for a system of integrity tests for people who offer themselves for political office and the fast-tracking of the draft legislation on campaign financing, which has been in the pipeline since 2006.