EDITORIAL - Ja on the barometer of corruption

Politicians and the police continue, by far, to be the most distrusted groups in Jamaica. Yet few, if any, of us in the island will find cause to celebrate the results of the latest Global Corruption Barometer just published by Transparency International.

Put another way, all of us - including the fraternity of which this newspaper is a member, the media - have much work to do to gain the confidence of the Jamaican people. The greater effort, though, must come from those who are most badly tarnished; not only because they are, but because it is they, with their control of the apparatus of the State, who have the capacity to take effective action.

Transparency's barometer is based on a survey of 114,000 people in 51 countries, where more than half of the people say that corruption worsened in the two years since a similar poll was done. Twenty-seven per cent of the people, more than double Jamaica's 12 per cent, reported having paid bribes in the previous 12 months.

Jamaica above average

But at 66 per cent (40 per cent a lot; 22 per cent a little), Jamaicans are substantially above the global figure for those who say that corruption worsened.

That might not be so bad were it not for the fact of the survey's reconfirmation of the crisis of distrust facing the critical institutions of Jamaica's democracy. Eighty-five per cent of Jamaicans believe our political parties are corrupt; 74 per cent have a similar view of Gordon House, the legislature; and 47 per cent say so of the judiciary. The press, too, did not emerge entirely unscathed; 30 per cent believe it corrupt.

The arrogant may attempt to dismiss or minimise these findings, pointing to the gap between reported participation in, and perception of, corruption. That would be a mistake.

The levels may be debated, but a gap between crime, including paying or eliciting bribes, and perceptions thereof is natural. Few participants willingly incriminate themselves. Evidence of their crime is usually the outcome of effective legislation, policing and prosecution. That is usually the result of institutions in which Jamaicans have low levels of trust.

Few benefit

The more critical thing for policymakers and leaders of civil society to pay attention to is that the great majority of Jamaicans believe that corruption results in an iniquitous society that benefits only a few.

For example, 53 per cent of the Jamaicans (17 per cent entirely; 36 per cent largely) believe that the Government is run by a few big entities in their own interest. If you add the 26 per cent who believe that is "somewhat" the case, the ratio moves to around eight in 10 people.

As recent events in Egypt, where the army deposed President Mohamed Morsi, illustrated, it is difficult to build consensus in such an environment. Of course, unlike Egypt, Jamaica has a tradition of democracy with much sounder supporting institutions.

But it is not impossible for these to be badly stressed and even break under the weight of corruption, public apathy and disenchantment. Our suggestion is for stakeholders to act urgently to prevent this.

In this regard, promised legislation, such as those for the monitoring of political-party financing, and a single robust anti-corruption agency is urgent. More important is the political will to act and to make them work.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.