Sweeping out unethical individuals

Jan 22, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

After reading the article in KN-21st, “Former Ministers Patterson and Ferguson received over $6.7M in gifts….”, and corresponding statements of the Public Works Ministers view of the leadership at the Public Accounts Committee; reminded me of a fox being asked to guard the chicken den.
It is difficult to see how “Gift Giving”, regardless of amount is even an acceptable policy.
Accepting gifts, regardless of employment in government or private companies, is grounds for dismissal that is clearly stated in the (a) Terms for accepting employment and (b) Yearly “Code of Conduct” employment reviews that employees have to sign and agree to, in the “Industrial world” because it can so obviously be misused. It is clearly unethical. It is shocking reasoning for anyone not to believe that this policy isn’t troublesome on its surface.
Ministers and other people in even higher positions, have had to resign just from accepting gifts in other countries. This policy is a big dark, special interest area with no advantage, easily prone to dark interests and should be banned outright. There is no justification for it.

Chi Kansi