THE MONTHLY GLEANER | APRIL 6 - MAY 6, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 8 Stamping out corruption should be top priority THE EDITOR, Madam: SINCE GAINING Independence, Jamaica has been plagued by corruption in politics. This issue has affected the country’s growth and development, and tarnished its reputation in the international arena. To tackle this problem head-on, the Government of Jamaica needs a prosecutorial body that has the ability to prosecute wrongdoers in politics, and the best option is the Integrity Commission. The establishment of the Integrity Commission was necessary because previous anti-corruption bodies were not able to carry out their mandate fully. The contractor general’s office, for example, faced challenges in obtaining evidence to support charges against corrupt officials, which resulted in the lack of convictions in many corruption cases, making it difficult for the public to trust government officials. Similarly, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has been criticised for being too slow in prosecuting corruption cases, which has undermined its effectiveness in curbing corruption. The Integrity Commission represents the best option for Jamaica to proactively investigate and prosecute individuals engaged in corruption and other illegal activities. Established by Parliament in 2017, the commission has a broad mandate, including the ability to bring charges against those deemed involved in corrupt activities, and the power to investigate allegations of corruption, misconduct or malfeasance within the public sector, and other entities falling under its jurisdiction, such as politically exposed persons. However, despite the existence of the Integrity Commission, prosecution has been infrequent across all existing bodies, and the proposal put forth by Mr Warmington to strip the Integrity Commission’s prosecutorial power would hurt Jamaica’s ability to hold corrupt politicians accountable. Through legislative actions and proper oversight, the Government must support all efforts aiming to bolster transparency in public office. Additionally, Parliament must prioritise its commitment to stamping out corruption, recognising that it is no less important than paying off the country’s debts. Jamaica must take critical steps to end corruption. MARIO BROWN Montego Bay History of wars and web of lies THE EDITOR, Madam: A PBS documentary on anti-VietnamWar protests took me on a journey down memory lane, leading tomany interesting junctions and byways. The 1969 protests were so huge in cities right across America, that President Richard Nixon and National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger were convinced to cancel their ‘madman’ plans for a massive escalation of the war in Vietnam. The White House was very disparaging of the anti-war movement; Nixon called themunpatriotic, among other things, while Vice-President Spiro Agnew attacked the media as “nattering nabobs of negativism” for covering protests. The documentary concluded that the protests changed the course of history, saving many lives. I remember participating in the 1969 protest in Baltimore at the invitation of a trainee marine pilot, who had guided the bulk carrier I worked on as chief mate through Chesapeake Bay the previous day. I remember the protest was exhilarating with many speakers and entertainers; John Lennon’s brand new song, Give Peace A Chance was played, soon to become an iconic anti-war anthem. I remember the ignominious ending of the VietnamWar with the fall of Saigon in 1975, two years after the last US military unit had left the country in defeat. I remember the Gulf War 15 years later, named ‘Desert Storm’ and playing live on CNN, with General ‘Stormin’ Norman Schwarzkopf ’s troops driving the Iraqi invaders out of Kuwait in quick time. I remember the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Colin Powell, declaring that this victory meant that the US disgrace in Vietnam had finally been expunged. I remember how Colin Powell became the most popular man in America, and both political parties wanted himon their presidential ticket. I remember how he became secretary of state under GeorgeW. Bush in 2001, and his popularity dramatically disappeared when he participated in the IraqWar’s web of lies. I remember how those words about America’s disgrace being expunged, really didn’t last too long. I remember how the undisputed de facto leader of NATO is now deeply entangled in another war, pouring limitless resources into their proxy Ukraine, with allies following suit. I remember that wars inevitably end in negotiations, and wondered how long before a peace settlement appears at a junction or byway in this memory lane. BERNIE SMITH Parksville, BC Canada CURRENT AND would-be migrants were hit with two punches to the gut this week by announcements from the governments of Canada and Ontario. During the much-anticipated summit between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, both countries agreed to implement steps to halt migration by asylum-seekers at irregular border crossings. In a joint statement, Canada said it will accept up to 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere and both countries agreed to expand the provisions of the Safe Third Country Agreement (“STCA”) to go beyond official border crossings and will also cover irregular border crossings such as Roxham Road. This agreement will permit either the US or Canada to turn back migrants upon arrival to the other country within 14 days. Irregular border crossing enabledmigrants to bypass this restrictive policy and has provided the space for many people to receive some forms of support on arrival in Canada. We use the word“irregular”because it is not illegal, according to the Refugee Convention, for migrants to cross a border for the purpose of making a refugee claim. Advocates are concerned that extending the STCA across the entire border will only force migrants to undertake more dangerous journeys. Journeys such as the one undertaken by Razak Iyal and Seidu Mohammed, both fromGhana. Iyal and Mohammed made the dangerous trek from North Dakota to the border of Manitoba during the winter months. Luckily, they were found by a trucker; however, as a result of frostbite, both men had to have most of their fingers amputated. In March of this year, both men were granted Canadian citizenship after successful refugee applications. Not only will people be forced to undertake similar dangerous journeys, but the extension of the STCA will outrightly deter migrants from applying for asylumprotections. STCA is a blunt tool of deterrence that will have catastrophic and deadly consequences for communities already feeling the effects of political and economic strife. How many more people will be compelled to undertake dangerous journeys or suffer similar fates to other migrants? The recent deaths of Fritznel Richard and Jose Leos Cervantes, both of whom died in proximity to the Roxham Road crossing, should be a rallying cry for easier access, not to more restrictive border crossings. UNINSURED PEOPLE Not to be outdone by their federal counterparts, the Ford government of Ontario doled out the second punch by ending a temporary policy directive that provided uninsured residents access to public healthcare. Implemented at the start of the pandemic, this policy directive was a lifeline for many undocumented peoples who could finally access life-saving healthcare for both COVID and non-COVID ailments. The policy was not perfect; it was often ignored by institutions. However, it was a step in the right direction. Recently, the Health Network for Uninsured Clients released a report entitled, ‘A Bridge to Universal Access: The Benefits of Ontario’s Program toMake Hospital Care Accessible to All Residents of the Province’. The report’s recommendations included creating a permanent directive to ensure access to healthcare for all uninsured people and improve access to primary healthcare in the community for uninsured people. For injured and sick migrant farm workers, such steps would provide a lifeline so that their health and wellbeing would not deteriorate while awaiting extended health care support fromprovincial workers’ compensation systems. The province’s response flies into the face of the suggestions brought forth byuninsured communities and frontline workers. Both levels of government have enacted mean-spirited policies that will lead to further vulnerabilities for communities who are further forced to the margins for policies that are frankly xenophobic and racist. Communities and allies once again must step up to undertake mutual aid programs, fundraising and mass mobilisations to provide the necessary care as governments continue to renege on their responsibility to protect the most precariously positioned members of our society. OPINION #GLNROPED [ LETTER OF THEWEEK ] The Gleaner welcomes your views on any issue. Preference will be given to letters of 300 words or less. They must bear the writer’s name, address and telephone contact. If using a pen name, you must state your full name. Your name and address will be withheld on request. EMAIL US: letters@gleanerjm.com or WRITE US: Editor, The Gleaner Company (Media) Ltd, 7 North Street, PO Box 40, Kingston, or fax: (876)922-6223 Migrants deaths, a rallying cry for easier access moya.thomas@gleanerjm.com Moya Thomas Chris Ramsaroop CONTRIBUTOR Logistics-centred economy key to spurring growth – Seaga Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica president, Metry Seaga, has proposed building a logistics-centred economy by, among other things, strengthening Jamaica’s special economic zones (SEZs) as a key strategy to help in spurring domestic growth.
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