Martinelli Does Not Approve of Looking for Cat’s Fifth Leg
President Ricardo Martinelli wants to do away with the Comptroller General of the Republic’s practice of spending screening in the appropriation of public funds.
“Previous or posterior control is irrelevant because if there are corrupt officials, they will steal sooner or later,” he justified.
The president stressed that no one can answer for the billions of dollars that have disappeared in Panama over the last 100 years, during which time the country relied on this system of spending screening – a system he says is only used in one other country in the rest of the world: Haiti.
Instead, he points to subsequent control measures that have proved effective with the Panama Canal Authority and the National Bank.
He also made it clear that people are always “looking for the cat’s fifth leg,” a way of saying looking for an excuse, and that all thieves justify their condition.
“If someone takes a dime, then I’m going after that official,” he added.
In somewhat related news, on Tuesday, Martinelli signed the 2011 State budget, a total of $13,009,299,204, or a lot of fifth paws.
La Prensa and La Critica report.
BRAVO Mr. Presidente…!
This is exactly what Panama needs…a serious crack downs at all levels of Gov’t. corruption.
I would suggest a “Whistle blower” program with CASH rewards for leads that end in a conviction of those who are FLEECING the Nation, and minimum jail terms of no less than 15 years.
Wide spread Publicity of the “Hero” for helping to protect the Nation would encourage others to look out and hopefully do the same.
That would make those thinking of this type of criminality think hard about the consequences of their actions, especially if they KNEW anyone around them might be “the one” to turn them in.