Letter of the Day | Let ‘...justice, truth, be ours forever…’

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As the relief supplies come into the island from the many sources of concern and assistance, both those directly connected to Jamaica and others simply wanting to help, it is important that we as a country express the deepest gratitude and appreciation to all donors.

One form of thanks is to guarantee that the supplies received are distributed in the best possible way, to meet and satisfy the real demands created or amplified by the hurricane. In fact, nothing is a greater expression of gratitude for any gift, than to ensure that what is received is used for what it was intended in the most effective way.

In that regard it is good to know that Keith Duncan has been asked to be a co-manager of the programme. Without offence to anyone, and to propose the unthinkable, it would be even better if a senator from the other side of the aisle was selected as the other co-manager, with full transparency, and regular, consistent accountability and reporting submitted to the Government and the country.

This is a relevant consideration, especially when one recalls the relief effort carried out some 37 years ago after the onslaught of Hurricane Gilbert. At that time, the then government, while seeking and receiving enormous help, rejected an offer from a non-partisan group to manage the distribution of the supplies.

Whether or not this was a political choice (the “was” being the more likely) the programme developed enormous scandals accompanied by numerous conspiracy theories, some of which were undoubtedly true, and one of which was the notorious zinc sheet scandal.

Given the island’s trenchant tendency for partisan bias in the dispersal of benefits, the programme would stand a much better chance of being recognised as successful and effective, if the initiative was either completely removed from governmental/party implementation, or headed by representatives from the two major parties. Although this would be great, we are not holding our breath.

But regardless of the way the programme is implemented, there needs to be full transparency, accountability, and fairness, so that scandals, rumours, and conspiracy theories are completely eliminated, and what becomes vividly apparent is that “Justice and Truth” are blatantly displayed

DAVID ABRIKIAN