Is it possible for the coal pot to call the kettle black? Hell, no! I have read with much interest the fowl cock and cockroach fight taking place over at the National Housing Corporation. Should these alleged transgressions be happening in 2010? I say no! How can it be fixed? Use your vote as leverage to decide on the political party you feel will introduce FOI and ITAL legislation. Barbados as a progressive democracy, must also enact legislation to deal with conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interests are considered to be a major risk across the private and public sector.
It may be easy for an official to place his or her own interests before the interests of the public. Most offshore company’s employees, unlike Government employees, must disclose even if lunch is offered to them. A clear conflict of interest policy which details specific reporting procedures is an effective tool to ensure any such conflicts are handled appropriately. Even the mere perception that a conflict of interest has influenced an outcome can undermine public confidence in an organisation. I will boldly say to the world, that no Barbadian politician nor civil servant was ever compromised through the receiving of money, land, house, trips or gifts of any kind. The giving and receiving of gifts or benefits is an area which generally holds a high level of risk for misconduct. While gifts and benefits are usually given as simple thanks for a job well done, care must be taken to ensure that the gift does not place, or appear to place, the receiver under any sense of obligation.
Accepting a gift or benefit without the appropriate control measures could be perceived as an acceptance of a bribe to influence a decision. Barbados needs to have a policy governing when gifts should be accepted or declined and there should be a gift register. It is also important that public sector employees have a clear understanding of the agency’s policies and procedures governing gifts and benefits. I wish to say to the employees of Town Planning Department, Custom & Excise, Immigration and Licensing Authority to keep the good work up. A farmer once told me a few bad apples cannot spoil a whole bunch! • Kammie Holder, the boy from a village, is wondering if there is any compromise where a public kids’ game room has no exit.
