Putting a dent in corruption

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I FEEL that the Contractor General should not only probe the awarding of contracts to contractors, but also subcontractors and the work they do. I believe this is one way we will put a dent in corruption. A lot of these so-called subcontractors are 'area leaders' beholden to political parties. Some of these so-called area leaders are extortionists and, if they are not, they enable extortion/extortionists to thrive.

A few months ago, I saw the laying of pipes in Lionel Town and other communities in Clarendon. Now they are digging up the same pipelines. How COME? And to whom are they accountable? A vexed citizen aptly said to me, "Them a give donkey horse work to do", in reference to instances where area leaders and other party supporters who don't have the appropriate skills are given contracts to lay pipes. What was the vetting process employed to these area leaders' contractors?

It is not strange to hear that men go from work site to work site and collect salaries for work they did not do. This will stop when the Office of the Contractor General is given greater latitude to investigate.

I am, etc.,

Authnel Reid

authnelreid@optonline.net