INNOVATOR AND ENTREPRENEUR Alan Emtage is a Barbadian of whom all his countrymen should be extremely proud. He has made it to the top of the league in the very competitive world of technology because of his ability. This has allowed him a bird eye’s view of not just an extremely competitive sector, but the key requirements in international business. A key point is that a jurisdiction should be free of corruption.
Unfortunately, he knows first-hand of this problem in Barbados, having had a personal encounter with a customs officer who demanded a bribe from him. His comments confirm what many Barbadians have long believed was and still is routine behaviour, not only at the customs, but in many areas of business activity, in both the public and private sectors.
It is a situation which we must not pretend doesn’t exist. The trade unions must not turn a blind eye nor try to defend greed; businesspeople must not condone it, and Government must speak to and act against this type of illegality. After all, corruption is a moral, economic and cultural problem which impacts the social welfare and development of this island.
Graft is a major modern-day scourge. We have seen it within FIFA, how it has impacted governance in Brazil, how rampant it is in China, and systemic in many African nations, with South Africa recently providing an absurd example. The Panama Papers provide more evidence of dishonesty at all levels. Corruption, whether in the public or private sectors, distorts competition, damages free enterprise and adds to the cost of doing business. The unfortunate outcome is that it can lead to a drop in investment in both physical and human capital. Corruption takes place at all levels.
It is for all these reasons and more that we support Mr Emtage’s call for this problem to be stamped out. But, we also realise that in order to get rid of corruption, we must deal with the disease and not just the symptom. We must build and strengthen institutions that allow for the greatest level of transparency and accountability, whether it is to deal with a crooked individual or a group of power elites similarly inclined, whoever they may be.
A good starting point is to have an effective bribery law on the statute books. The justice system must be effectively equipped to deal with commercial interests that fail to prevent bribery committed on their behalf, as it must be with those who try to bribe foreign public or private officials for business reasons.
Enacting whistleblower legislation is equally as important to complement the process.
We must not accept wrongdoing at whatever level, allowing it to become the status quo while we use the silly excuse that it has always been the norm. Corruption must not be allowed to undermine the development and prosperity of this country. Honesty is still, after all, the best guiding principle.
