That corruption is a big problem in the Dutch Caribbean was once again confirmed by Curaçao-based criminologist and fraud examiner Nelly Schotborgh (see Saturday paper). She studied all known public fraud and corruption cases on the six islands handled by the Joint Court of Justice between 2000 and 2015.
There were no fewer than 46 of such during that period and this regards only the ones in which an appeal was filed. In 53 per cent of these the primary crime was corruption, while it was fraud for 43 per cent.
The majority, 65 per cent, were classified at the highest level of grand political fraud and corruption. When these crimes involve high-ranking government officials or political decision-makers their negative impact is predictably greatest.
This is also why the persons involved may be held to a higher standard, as society puts its trust in them. For that reason, the full names of public figures who become suspects are published in the newspaper as well, while for others only the initials until a judge has convicted them.
The often-long investigations and negative publicity these high-level cases generate are indeed costly, but perhaps most damaging is the bad example they set. Corruption has been likened to termites because it eats away at the very foundation of democracy.
Fraud and corruption by low- and mid-level officials is indeed less dramatic, but its negative effect should not be underestimated. That about half a dozen or more immigration staffers have been tried over the years did not exactly help ensure an adequate border control, for example.
Interesting is the scientist’s conclusion that civil servants tend not to keep each other honest because they rely so much on maintaining their jobs for financial security. In one-third of the cases examined, warning signals were given but ignored.
She concludes that just a small group currently profits from prosperity, so fighting corruption and fraud will only be successful if the income inequality diminishes and people become less financially dependent. That’s probably true, but also a tall order certainly in St. Maarten with an economy still recovering from a devastating blow dealt by the hurricanes of September 2017.
Meanwhile, the correct attitude remains at least trying to do the right thing under all circumstances.
