Dear Editor,

In January 2009, the contractor general announced that he had commenced investigations into alleged corruption charges against Mr Hibbert after Britain’s Serious Fraud Office’s visit to Jamaica.

In October, the Office of the Contractor General announced that it had concluded its special investigation into the allegations of corruption and had sent copies to the police commissioner and the DPP “for such action as any or both of them may deem to be appropriate having regard to the evidence… found in the matter”. Just a week ago, after five months have elapsed, the DPP stated that there is not sufficient evidence to proffer a prosecution against anyone and has sent the matter to the police for further investigation.

This case reveals serious deficiencies in the present anti-corruption efforts. There is definitely a need for greater levels of collaboration between investigative and prosecutorial functions. It is not fair for Mr Hibbert and other public officials to have their case move from agency to agency without a timely resolution.

Mr Christie’s call for an independent corruption commission is therefore worth considering. Mr Christie proposed the merger of the Integrity Commission, the Corruption Prevention Commission and the Office of the Contractor General into a National Independent Anti-Corruption State Agency to investigate and prosecute corruption offences. He proposed that the agency be staffed with investigators and be buttressed by the establishment of a Special Corruption Court. The Joseph Hibbert-Mabey & Johnson case demonstrates the validity of Mr Greg Christie’s proposal, which indicates the focus and integrated approach that is needed to fight corruption. It is not beyond us to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of our anti-corruption efforts by merging the investigative and prosecutorial functions without undermining the constitutional authority of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. We could begin by looking at the Sierra Leone model.

It would have been better if the National Independent Anti-Corruption State Agency proposal had emerged out of consultation and collaboration between the Office of the Contractor General and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. Nothing should be done to give the perception that there is fundamental personality or philosophical differences between Contractor General Greg Christie and Director of Public Prosecution Paula Llewellyn. This perception, real or imagined, is not good, because they both have a critical and collaborative role to play in the fight against corruption.

Greg Christie and Paula Llewellyn represent all that is good about Jamaica. Paula Llewellyn has brought new energy, professionalism, and unprecedented openness to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. Greg Christie’s passion, thoroughness, fearlessness and integrity are beyond question.

In the final analysis the fight against corruption is not about Greg versus Paula, but rather about preserving the legitimacy and integrity of the Jamaican state. This demands collaboration among the stakeholders and the gatekeepers.

Orville Plummer

oaplummer@yahoo.com