We must treat corruption with moral outrage

Jan 28, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
Your editorial of 24 January 2011, “Tackling Corruption” succinctly described the affects of runaway corruption. It may be fair to say that Guyana has, over the years, become a more corrupt place. At root, in my opinion, is the willingness of citizens to pay bribes on demand or sometimes as unsolicited encouragement to achieve an important desired result.
Few older Guyanese will deny that Guyana is also seeing a lowering in the principles and a lessening of the behavioural norms we associate with the good society. Everyday life is replete with examples give a beggar a few notes and see if he or she says “thank you”; observe a school child accidentally bump into an elderly pedestrian and wait to hear if the child says “sorry”.
In the not too distant past we took these indicators of good manners for granted. We no longer can. Even worse is the fact that we tolerate these abuses and in so doing have become complicit in the devaluation of the very principles we hold sacred. When last has a Minister of government apologised for unbefitting conduct?
Yet political bosses remain unmoved or are publicly forgiving of peers and observe silence while we the general public go along with these assaults on our sense of decency and proper behaviour.
Enter rampant corruption. It is safe to say it all connects. Our tolerance of corrupt practices has resulted in a burgeoning of the problem.
We need to frequently, consistently and more vocally express moral outrage and indignation when we feel certain that a bribe is being demanded. Any thing short of this is complicity.
F. Hamley Case

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