Corruption can erode societies

THE EDITOR, Sir:

As a person who once paid a traffic ticket, I want to let the others know that one doesn't have to set up a tent and camp out anywhere to pay the fine as it was suggested by Daniel Thwaites in his article 'Step into my SUV, please', published in the August 26, 2012 edition of The Sunday Gleaner. It is a fairly simple process and can be paid online or at the tax office.

The recent case involving Bruce Bicknell, Daryl Vaz and Senior Superintendent James Forbes has become a wake-up call for the society, the judiciary and the police force. The outcome might affect the lives of these individuals, but could also create a positive direction for the country.

Whatever the outcome of the instant case, more broadly, corruption has the capability to erode societies. Many countries have been its victim. Maybe some persons don't even consider as corruption, the bribing of a policeman to get off a traffic violation.

My husband has a definition for First World and Third World corruption. In First World corruption, you pay someone to do something they are not supposed to do; in Third World corruption, you pay someone to do something they are supposed to do.

We should strive to not belong to either of these worlds. As a society, we have to ask ourselves when does doing a friend a favour become corrupt behaviour, or when does a public servant helping a politician become wrong. Where is the line that we should, or shouldn't, cross?

If the case goes to trial and Sergeant Llewellyn's claims be proven true, I commend him for doing something which many of us wouldn't have had the guts to do.

GUNJAN MANSINGH (Dr)

gunjan.mansingh

@uwimona.edu.jm

Kingston 6