In 2014, Jamaica ranks 85 of 174 countries on the corruption
index by Transparency International. Let me start by saying that this is a bad
state to be in. Corruption drives away investors, and that is bad for any
country. The current PNP administration knows nothing about accountability. And
the failure to remove non-performers from high places are negligible. Like Ebola,
a new epidemic has revealed itself in Gordon House and it is called the PNPVLS –
People’s National Party Vision Less Syndrome. It is caused by a virus that once
it enters the body it goes straight to the brain, and eats out that part of the
brain that interprets vision. As such, a person who has this disease cannot see
non-performance, corruption or lack of accountability. Depending on the stage
of the virus, type 1 includes when one cannot see one of the three and type 2
includes when one cannot see a combination of the three. This virus is a deadly
virus and is costing Jamaicans millions.
It seems this virus has no cure, or no treatment. A person
can live with this virus for an entire lifetime and is unaware that they have
it. It can be spread through direct contact with the person or via the air. The
symptoms include: failure to get rid of non-performers, have a tendency to
defend non-performers, failure to see a corrupt colleague, has no idea that
someone is wasting public funds, refused to adhere to the voice of the public,
resist change, and having no clue what is happening at street level among
others. The virus has infiltrate Gordon House because clearly most if not all
have shown some signs of these symptoms. Will there ever be a cure or treatment
for this disease? I hope so.
A few persons have caught this disease and I am wondering
who else is going to catch it. The main person who has this disease is the PM.
She refuse to sack Philipo Paulowell, Fentonian Ferginsono, Eastoni Douglas and
was trying to defend Jennifera Edwardso for her handling of the Riverton City
Dump. The NHT has been on a rampant waste of public funds, as revealed by the
Auditor General. Clearly Jamaica is feeling the effects of these people who are
either not performing, not accountable or corrupt. The Auditor General also
revealed that the Ministry of Education was giving out illegitimate contracts.
Then we hear about a former Mayor who award family members and close friends
contracts and or money amounting to over three million dollars. How can we get
better, and these are happening under the PNP administration.
It was Garfield Higgins that wrote well informed and
extensive column in the Jamaica Observer showing us that the PNP knows nothing
about accountability. Is it that it just happen to be that way? No, the disease
has taken it roots, eating out the brain slowly but surely. How a virus does
works? The concept is simple: “Viruses lie around our environment all of the
time just waiting for a host cell to come along. They can enter us through the
nose, mouth or breaks in the skin. Once inside, they find a host cell to
infect. For example, cold and flu viruses will attack cells that line the respiratory
or digestive tracts. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS,
attacks the T-cells of the immune system.
Regardless
of the type of host cell, all viruses follow the same basic steps in what is
known as the lytic cycle:
1. A virus particle attaches to a host cell.
2. The particle releases its genetic instructions into the host cell.
3. The injected genetic material recruits the host cell's enzymes.
4. The enzymes make parts for more new virus particles.
5. The new particles assemble the parts into new viruses.
6. The new particles break free from the host cell.
All
viruses have some type of protein on the outside coat or envelope that
"feels" or "recognizes" the proper host cell(s). This protein
attaches the virus to the membrane of the host cell. Some enveloped viruses can dissolve
right through the cell membrane of the host because both the virus envelope and
the cell membrane are made of lipids.
Those
viruses that do not enter the cell must inject their contents (genetic
instructions, enzymes) into the host cell. Those viruses that dissolve into a
cell simply release their contents once inside the host. In either case, the
results are the same. (Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.). It is sad, but I hope
that it will not spread, because I sure don’t want it.
