The Report of the commission of enquiry into the construction sector of T&T (2010) concluded mass corruption at all levels. T&T Transparency International's survey on corruption in the T&T construction industry (2009) supports UFF's conclusions. Transparency International's Bribe Players Index (2008) published that public works and construction firms were the most corruption-prone when dealing with the public sector. TI (2005) concluded "corruption to be higher in construction than in any other sector of the (global) economy."
According to Jain (2001), corruption is often associated with public office using their power, breaking the rules, for personal gain. In our society we often blame corruption on the government without acknowledging that for it to exist, bribes must be paid; and it's the private citizens (private businessmen) who complain the most.
Ashforth and Anand (2003) stated that corruption is a culture. Therefore, for every corrupt public official there is an equally-corrupt citizen.
My argument is that corruption is the business plan of many of our private enterprises who gain an unfair competitive advantage over businesses who compete on merit. Therefore, the business community is equally corrupt and must take responsibility for their behaviour.
Too often the T&T chambers of commerce point fingers at public officials when in fact their organisation (members) in aggregate are guilty. Shamefully, like the famous Kennedys of the USA who built wealth on illegal bootlegging, some of our nation's business icons are unworthy of their status.
Whenever a new government is elected, the (same) hordes of business magnates, a brotherhood network of profiteers under the last administration, gravitate to feed on the new power and often na�ve power brokers (and of course newcomers are introduced into the cycle of opportunity).
They perfect the craft to corrupt and construct business plans to execute vile practices with expert finesse and shrewd gameplay.
Experienced in human weaknesses, they take aim with precision. Selecting from their arsenal of sex, greed, money and power, the business of corruption is played with a stacked deck of trickery, coercion, violence and treachery. Even murder becomes an option when the stakes are high and money (laundering) is at play.
Often the na�ve are swallowed whole, consumed by power, wealth and a force that overwhelms good.
Unbeknownst to the perpetrators, the mysterious but universal law of "what goes around always comes around" manifests into justice, taking the form of a godly curse of divine retribution, the guilty who became rich in their spoils of materiality are condemned to live poorly–often the punishment imposed is sadly harsh and administered by illness, unhappiness and various tragedies.
Then the fallen, having given the devil his due, pays a heavy price, then turns to God.
Unfortunately, along the way, the corrupted leaves a legacy of ailments by depriving individuals and our society of their innocence and the requisite values that shape an ethical and honourable culture.
They rob the nation of country-building and steals from the poor the opportunities to better their lives.
Many in T&T's society who cry corruption are not immune. T&T is ranked as a corrupt society by Transparency International (2004).
Altogether the hypocrisy of blaming the Government while exempting others, rather than looking in the mirror at the accused, is a self-defeating, self-inflicted conspiracy.
In defense of good men who have resisted and consequently been victimised: stand tall and stay your course, what goes around comes around!
"Corruption is the enemy of development and of good governance. It must be got rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective"–P Patil
Brian Stone