Corruption an urgent National issue

Corruption in public office is one of the most urgent issues facing Trinidad and Tobago. It is as, if not more, important than the out-of-control murder rate, since corruption feeds both white-collar and violent crimes. This is shown by the number of murders reportedly connected to the Unemployment Relief Programme, because of alleged diversion of funds to gang leaders' pockets. In similar fashion, drug transhipments within this country's borders, which is a key factor in many of these murders, could hardly happen without the connivance of some officials.

Corruption also encourages criminal activity by skewing the economy, increasing the resentments of those at the bottom of the social ladder, and by undermining the ethical obligations that persons feel towards their office and to one another. So it is clear that reducing corruption is an essential part of reducing crime. But how does a society go about doing this? It is useless to appeal to people's better nature. The reasons we have outlined above cannot dissuade persons who want to be corrupt. Such individuals will always find some justification for their acts, which may range from the belief that they deserve the money they steal or the argument that everyone is doing it, so if they don't take their share, someone else will or the contention that there is so much money that what they siphon does no harm. These are obviously indefensible justifications but, if we think about it, we will realise that many of us use similar arguments in more trivial matters — for example, taking office supplies, driving too fast or littering.

The only way to fight corruption, therefore, is through concrete action. Trinidad and Tobago took a huge step forward when corruption charges were laid against politicians and business persons involved in the Piarco Airport Project. The virtue here has nothing to do with whether these individuals are innocent or guilty. It has to do with showing that the rich and powerful are subject to the same legal scrutiny as ordinary citizens. Prime Minister Patrick Manning must be commended for taking this particular bull by the horns. But that brings us to the judges themselves, who have been refusing to comply with the law which states that they must declare their assets to the Integrity Commission.

It only recently came out that the Commission apparently exempted judges from this requirement. Neither the Commission nor any judge has denied the revelation. But this is an exemption that the Commission has no authority to give. Moreover, the judges, all trained legal minds, have apparently accepted the exemption. So what we have here is a situation where persons whose very functions require strict ethical standards are falling short. This only supports the rationale for placing judges within the ambit of the Integrity in Public Life Act in the first place. Very unfortunately, the development also implies that the check of the Integrity Commission itself is inadequate, since its principals have not conducted themselves with the professionalism expected of such a body. So, if this country is to really get a handle on official corruption, we need to review existing systems — starting, perhaps, with the Commission itself.