Corruption should not be tolerated at any level
Dear Editor:
We all reference Singapore as the pinnacle of economic performance and everyone usually quotes their economic model as the one we should try to emulate. However, we need to be cognizant of one key fact which differentiates the Singaporeans from us. In 1965, when Lee Kuan Yew became Prime Minister of a newly independent Singapore, they eschewed any form of corruption from infiltrating their political service and public services sector. They built their country on merit, and reinforced this with a strict system of laws. In fact one could remember the strict penalty of caning for the American who was charged with vandalism during the 1990’s. The penalties for corruption are even harsher. This has resulted in Singapore currently having a ranking as the 5th least corrupt country in the world.
After reading Keith Subero’s column in Monday’s Trinidad Express newspapers, it confirmed in my mind why we are where we are as a country. Here was a man reasoning that because of Prof. Ken Julien’s pivotal role in the development of the Point Lisas estate, the Attorney General should not go after him for his negligence at e-Teck. I quote directly from his article. “In the 70s, Dr Eric Williams envisioned Point Lisas as an estate that could produce industrial products for the world market—but it was Prof Julien who headed a team which included Sam Martin, Eldon Warner, Ken Snaggs, attorney Mary Moore and many others who were the “mechanics” of Dr Williams’ dream.Thirty years later, Ken Julien, having pioneered the unique, world-class multi-billion Point Lisas Estate, is brought before the court to answer charges for a $30 million investment that allegedly failed.”
So according to Subero’s logic, we must give Julien a “bligh” because of what he did for the country. However, turning a blind eye to any malfeasance and corruption is the beginning of this country’s descent down a very slippery slope. Oh, how silly of me, we started going down that slope decades ago!
Anil Roopnarine
via email