National Hero Robyn Rihanna Fenty once told the media that Barbadians liked to use the “c” word when responding to matters or people who offended them. But there is another “c” word with which we are very familiar, and that we should never want to align ourselves with. The “c” word is corruption.For decades, the issue of corruption has been a talking point on political platforms. It was an invective that was hurled about more as a slur on the character of opponents. It was never used by politicians in any real attempt to seek evidence of said corruption, nor to take steps to root it out and hold wrongdoers accountable.It was another “c” word to gain advantage and hurt opponents. Much has changed, though, as corruption has become pervasive and almost endemic in many countries, both industrialised and developing states.
