Commissioners Urge Jamaicans to Report Corrupt Acts

The Commissioners of Police and Customs are among top officials urging Jamaicans to start blowing the whistle on corrupt personnel.
Speaking at the launch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) 1-800-CORRUPT toll-free line on Sunday (Jan. 18) at the Police Officers’ Club in Kingston, Commissioner of Customs, Danville Walker, said that with the anti-corruption line now in place, there is no reason for persons not to report acts of corruption and called on well thinking Jamaicans to play their part in the fight.
“A great deal has gone into creating the anonymity that people require to feel free to give the information that they know. The excuses that many people have why they will not come forward are being addressed. With this toll-free line, there is no cost and it’s being answered by non-Jamaicans.there is no reason why upstanding…up right Jamaicans, who know and have the information not to talk,” he stressed, adding that the time has come to do away with the ‘informer culture’.
“We have carefully developed what I refer to as anti-informer culture in Jamaica; we do it in our music and our discussions and what this culture has provided is a shield of invisibility to those who perpetuate corruption in Jamaica,” he pointed out.
Mr. Walker said the anti-informer culture has not helped and will not help Jamaica. “It is almost seen as anti-Jamaican to give the information necessary to the police force, to those who run organisations like Customs in this fight. It has not served our country well, it has served only the corrupt persons in this country and they have come to depend on it. We have to turn back the tide,” he stated.
Stressing that the 1-800-CORRUPT line is important to the efforts by the JCF and Customs to fight corruption, Mr. Walker said: “There are many good officers in the police force and the Customs Department but those few who are corrupt need to be removed. This line will give us the opportunity to increase the fear of detection…so that persons will not continue the act.”
In the meantime, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, commended the organisations involved in the implementation of the line and used the opportunity to warn corrupt persons to desist. “A public servant once bought, stays bought and we advise you stop it,” he stated, while urging persons to “play your part by reporting what you know.”
Adding his voice to the cry, Head of the Anti-Corruption Branch, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Justin Felice, said that attacking corruption is critical to advancing the economy.
“The World Bank has identified corruption as its greatest obstacle to economic and social development on which economic growth depends. Corruption sabotages policies and programmes.so attacking corruption is critical. With that in mind it is important that leaders of prime industries, local and community sector and the legal profession start to play a major role in bringing corruption to an end,” he urged.
In calling on Jamaicans to report acts of corruption, ACP Felice emphasised that while corruption is a global issue, it takes everyone’s effort to bring it to an end.
“Creating an environment, which is corruption-free, will require various actions from all levels including the mobilisation of the public support for anti-corruption strategies. Corruption has become global in its impact and has increased threats to the entire society as with drug trafficking, human trafficking, and international terrorism. So let’s make the change and do the right thing, always remember that integrity is non-negotiable, just tell us what you know,” he pleaded.
The anti-corruption toll-free line is a partnership involving the JCF, Crime Stoppers International, and LIME (formerly Cable and Wireless Limited).