Full Video: The Cost of Corruption... Jamaica's Barrier to Prosperity

[Xavier]

The full video for the documentary for "The Cost of Corruption... Jamaica's Barrier to Prosperity" is now available. It is about 1 hour long. What are your thoughts.

[RichD]

yuh si when yuh a eat a food

[Xavier]

yuh si when yuh a eat a food

What did you think about the documentary.

[RichD]

What did you think about the documentary.

i only watch part of it so far but i don't think most people have a grasp at the scope of the corruption.

[Xavier]

i only watch part of it so far but i don't think most people have a grasp at the scope of the corruption.

The seem to point back to a specific loan in the 1970's as a key point in our economic development history. I think there is more to it than that.

[franksterr]

The seem to point back to a specific loan in the 1970's as a key point in our economic development history. I think there is more to it than that.

Great documentary.

I am not sure the root or primary problem is local corruption.

[RichD]

Great documentary.

I am not sure the root or primary problem is local corruption.

expand on dat a little

[Peasie]

I watched the entire video which is produced by National Integrity Action, www.niajamaica.org. It was a sobering documentary on the cost of corruption using four "case studies" in the areas of: education, housing, Ponzi schemes, and organized crime. The consequences of corruption on each of these areas are discussed in the documentary:

Education- from a $9.5 million loan in 1966 of which $5 million has never been accounted for

• Half the schools built that could have been constructed.
• Not enough schools for the expanding student population
• Severe overcrowding of classrooms
• Bad student performance, poor learning outcomes and low productivity in the overall circumstances.

Housing – Operation Pride which funneled monies from poor people who paid into loans to secure land they were promised but never received.

• Continuation and expansion of island-wide squatting
• Facilitation of criminal enclaves.,
• Frustration of inner city residents.
• Hundreds of millions lost that should have gone to solving the housing crisis

Olint a Ponzi scheme. David Smith benefited $220 million from bogus retirement investments

• Billions of dollars lost to Jamaica’s GDP
• Ruination of hundreds of professionals
• Proceeds of crime donated to political parties and politicians.
• Worldwide reputation of the loss of the Jamaican justice system.

Extradition of Dudus, Discussion on the dons in Jamaica

• The link between politics and organized crime was revealed.
• Stranglehold of dons over community life
• No freedom of speech or movement because of violent intimidation of citizens in “garrison communities”
• Resulted in a serious fall in Jamaica’s international standing

[j-kid]

I am happy to see that many of the things that we the people have been complaining about for many years have been formalized and encapsulated so that it can be further exposed, as to what has been going on in Jamaica. Bottom-line, the common everyday Jamaican people are the ones continually getting screwed on a daily basis.

[franksterr]

expand on dat a little

Due to lack of transparency on The initial 9.5 million on which hangs much of his theory. One does not know what strings or stipulations are involved that resulted in procurement changes.

[RichD]

Due to lack of transparency on The initial 9.5 million on which hangs much of his theory. One does not know what strings or stipulations are involved that resulted in procurement changes.

so, if i get the gist of what you are saying, the local politician are just a victim of the corruption imported by the overseas financiers?

[Xavier]

so, if i get the gist of what you are saying, the local politician are just a victim of the corruption imported by the overseas financiers?

It is interesting that you ask that question as I remember having a discussion with another Jamaican about this a while back who theorized that the corruption has roots in the slave trade when other slaves were bribed by mastered to report on their colleagues. They then compared it to big companies with kick-back to get contracts in third world countries and some countries paying government officials to spy in their own countries. Bottom line is he were blaming the "outsiders".

[franksterr]

so, if i get the gist of what you are saying, the local politician are just a victim of the corruption imported by the overseas financiers?

Yes...but not in all cases, (sometimes they are willing participants other times they just plain greedy) - its a matter of starting off on the wrong footing and just not being allowed to get it right.
The West and their concomitant institutions (IMF World Bank) are known to give loans under conditions so as to wreak havoc on fragile or burgeoning economies as a means of control.

[RichD]

Yes...but not in all cases, (sometimes they are willing participants other times they just plain greedy) - its a matter of starting off on the wrong footing and just not being allowed to get it right.
The West and their concomitant institutions (IMF World Bank) are known to give loans under conditions so as to wreak havoc on fragile or burgeoning economies as a means of control.

yes but that is only a part of the issue in jamaica.

they have perfected a way of siphoning money from the public purse into the coffers of the parties and into the pockets of party members.

[franksterr]

yes but that is only a part of the issue in jamaica.

How much of a role does it play?

they have perfected a way of siphoning money from the public purse into the coffers of the parties and into the pockets of party members.

Where is the siphoned monies being kept?
Do you really believe this could happened without the tacit approval of the lending organizations?