Letter of the Day | People, no mek Horace and dem lamps yuh up

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Dr Horace Chang’s call for a “balanced approach” to unexplained wealth orders (UWOs) comes across as a well-constructed trap, one that subtly cloaks the real elephant in the room: Jamaica’s deepening corruption and our leaders’ well-rehearsed hypocrisy. People, no mek Horace lamps yuh up with his talk of protecting constitutional rights, privacy, and property. That rhetoric masks a more troubling reality: the preservation of untouchable wealth, potentially amassed through illicit means.

As the Government hastens to soften the Integrity Commission’s (IC’s) legislative teeth and backpedals on UWOs, the timing is curious, especially when viewed alongside Dr Nigel Clarke’s imminent transition to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These decelerations and reversals raise fundamental questions about our nation’s commitment to accountability. Clarke’s upcoming IMF role – an undeniably prestigious appointment – sits in sharp contrast to the weakening of Jamaica’s anti-corruption framework.

Chang has pointed to the UK’s implementation of UWOs, where they have been applied sparingly, primarily targeting politically exposed persons (PEPs) and high-value individuals. Ask yourself: Why the hesitation in Jamaica? Why now, when the legislation is needed most, are the highest echelons of our leadership retreating behind constitutional curtains, claiming to safeguard the public while sidestepping accountability? This is not about balance. It’ is about ensuring that PEPs and the elite remain protected under the guise of constitutionalism.

And what of Dr Clarke? While his financial stewardship is rightly lauded by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, the Government’s apparent weakening stance on corruption could not have come at a worse time. Should these actions trigger red flags from international bodies like the Financial Action Task Force, Nigel’s ability to champion transparency at the IMF could be compromised. Jamaica’s reputation, hard-won after years of fiscal prudence, now teeters on a precipice. What happens if the IMF begins to see Jamaica not as a shining example, but as a case of a country wilting under the weight of internal corruption?

This isn’t just about Dr Clarke’s personal credibility. His new IMF role places him in a unique position of influence, particularly when advocating for developing nations and small island states. But how can he lead by example on the global stage if Jamaica’s own anti-corruption efforts are crumbling beneath him?

In times like these, I recall my late ‘Uncle’ Eddy’s musings on “overthrow and underthrow”. Are we unwittingly sabotaging the future of one of our brightest sons, Dr Clarke, by dilly-dallying with UWOs and legislative reforms? In attempting to protect the privileged, is Jamaica jeopardising its global financial standing and undermining the very institutions meant to ensure fairness and justice for all?

People, stay woke! No mek Horace an’ dem lamps yuh up with sandflies while elephants of corruption trample our national integrity. Nigel’s global future, and Jamaica’s, are inextricably linked to the choices we make today.

DENNIS MINOTT