Inaction against corruption inhibits country's development - Gary "Butch" Hendrickson

Chairman of the National Baking Company, Gary "Butch" Hendrickson has pointed the finger at his fellow private sector members, saying their inaction against corruption facilitates the scourge which has held back the country's development. 

Mr Hendrickson was speaking yesterday at the National Integrity Action (NIA) ceremony in Kingston to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.

Corruption rife in Jamaica...it has been partly blamed for the country's underdevelopment...but Chairman of the National Baking Company, Gary "Butch" Hendrickson says it continues to exist only because the private allows it.

“There is no way corruption in government could take place at the level that it does if it were not for the complicity of the private sector.”

In making his claim, Mr Hendrickson says he's not looking to be popular among his fellow businessmen...and even called for any caught in corrupt acts to be named and shamed.

He said it's incumbent on the private sector to fight corruption...by being more transparent.

“A single united declaration that we will no longer allow this to go on, will go a long way to helping us to achieve what the NIA wants to ….”

 Hendrickson points to columns in the two daily newspapers telling Jamaicans how to migrate as one of the consequences of corruption.

“What a hell of a thing, that means that we have not created the opportunities for our own nation - so we continue to look outside,” he said. 

Justice Minister vows to fight corruption 

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has promised to do whatever he can to help in the fight against corruption.

He says he wants Jamaica to rise on the Corruption Index, adding that five Commissioners will be named on the Integrity Commission and calls on them to lead the fight against corruption.

Chuck also called  on the public sector to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy which creates the loop holes for corruption by delivering services in a timely manner.