CORRUPTION PERMEATES almost every area of society, destabilising systems to make space for criminal activities. It is one of the main enablers of human-rights infringements, bribery in state systems and a major facilitator of trafficking of people and firearms.
And yet, at the two-day symposium on violence as a public health issue: the crime challenge held at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, earlier this week, where most Caricom state heads came together to declare a war on guns, and were comfortable enough to speak on every other cause of crime – including the desire of gunmen to mind pretty and high-maintenance women – very few were keen to speak on it.
While some did not even mention the word, several leaders alluded to the possibility that systems may be compromised by corrupt activities. However multiple reports suggest that corruption on many levels, contributes to the firearms trade to which Caricom is taking a stand.
Politicians: Corruption? Yes, We’ve heard of it
At a post-symposium media conference on Tuesday, Business Day asked a panel of state heads including the TT Prime Minister (PM), Jamaican PM Andrew Holness, Caricom chairman and Bahamas PM Philip Davis and St Lucia PM Philip J Pierre about corruption, and how it contributes to the firearms trade.
They said that while there is significant evidence to suggest that corruption has infiltrated many systems meant to secure and defend the region, much of that evidence is by word of mouth.
“Most of it is anecdotal supported by continuous flows of evidence of actual things happening. the best way to answer that question is to say that we know of no area, or activity, governmental or private sector, where corruption is not a possibility, likelihood or widespread,” said Dr Rowley.
Rowley said one person addressing the level of crime spoke on corruption saying that it was a major contributor, and it was recognised again during the media conference that it was a facilitator to the transport of illicit goods across regional borders, including illicit firearms.
“We spoke about illegal entry, and we assumed, and that assumption is still alive and well, that a lot of the illegal movement of these unwanted items which are so dangerous to us are facilitated by some element of corruption at various locations too numerous to mention – the obvious one being at borders.”
“The others are facilitatory action where guards who are supposed to guard the guards are in fact doing the opposite, and we are in fact familiar with it. So, it is a given that for these things to flourish there has to be some level of indifference or corruption.”
St Vincent and the Grenadines PM Dr Ralph Gonsalves also noted that there were high levels of corruption in many areas, even if he didn’t say the word.
“There has been some discussion on it,” he told Business Day. “But you have to do it on an evidence-based set of criteria. For instance, you will find things that deal with the law and order and justice system. There are aspects in those which, as you have said, ther
