When Corruption Gets A Party Card

The above is a verse from a popular reggae song, ‘Equal Rights’ by Jamaican reggae musician, Peter Tosh. It reflects our current (so-called) anti-corruption crusade when everyone is talking about corruption, corruption yet some wise folks are ready to defend and shield persons that have been found by a competent court to have been involved in corruption.

As a people, until we adopted an apolitical attitude in tackling corruption, we would be wasting our precious time, efforts and resources on a wild goose chase.

News reports that an incumbent Member of Parliament, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye had said that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would return to power and free one of its own that has been tried and jailed for corruption is most unfortunate.

It is not a statement that should come from a legislator. It could be pardoned if it were heard from the lips of an ignorant tipsy soul talking loosely in a palm wine bar most probable under the influence of liquor.

But for a legislator to spew such talks that a political party would return to power and overturn the ruling of a competent court of jurisdiction is nonsensical and absurd to say the least.

How would the NDC do that? Would the party, in the event it gets voted back to political power, interfere in the independence of the judiciary? Or the party would simply get its leader, perhaps the President, to issue a presidential pardon and get the convicted person out.

In this particular instance, the convicts were given a fair trial and right to legal representation, after which the courts found them guilty and charged them accordingly. In deed their rights to appeal the ruling has not been denied them.

Why then should a Member of Parliament make such a statement which creates an impression the convicts were political prisoners and therefore their freedom is tied to a political party getting into government.

Such loose talks politicize the anti-corruption fight and gives corruption a political party card. Such attitudes should not be encouraged.

The adverse effects of corruption affect us all irrespective of our gender, religion, political affiliation or tribe.

It is the same neutrality that is devoid of favour, fear, ill-will or affection that should be used in tackling corruption.

The legislator, in this particular instance, simply goofed big time and deserves to be condemned by all right thinking and well-meaning person.