Howard Hamilton - HORSE SENSE

After reading the rather wordy reaction by the contractor general (CG) to my column, 'Much ado about nothing', an image formed in my mind of young Greg Christie being asked by his kindergarten teacher to recite the nursery rhyme "Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are," to which I imagined he would have responded: "Scintillate, scintillate globule vivific. Fain would I fathom thy nature specific."

Despite Mr Christie's wordy diatribe, he has failed to explain away the OCG's ham-fisted incursion into the simulcasting of races by Caymanas Track Ltd (CTL) and the dire consequences that have resulted. One could conclude that his wordiness was a deliberate attempt to obfuscate.

Plodding bureaucrats

For all the 187 pages of the OCG report on CTL's simulcasting and Mr Christie's subsequent wordy forays into journalism, it is clear that the plodding bureaucrats at the OCG have failed to achieve an understanding of how simulcasting works.

I pointed out in a previous column that while the OCG's report asserts that CTL has paid J$166 million of "public funds" to the suppliers of simulcast satellite signals for the period 2006 January to 2008 July, and that doing so was in violation of applicable Government procurement procedures, the fact is that these were not public funds at all, but money wagered by the punters to whom the signals were directed. The funds paid represented the commission due to the suppliers of the signals on which the wagering took place.

As far as Mr Christie's sly assertion that I "skilfully avoided" reference to certain names and issues in my article is concerned, he would have been unaware that the published article was one of a two-part series, the second of which was only recently published by The Gleaner. Nevertheless, he would be aware that the matters he claimed I sidestepped being now before the attorney general (AG) would not be appropriate for such discussion until the AG's ruling is made known. In other words, Horse Sense will return to these matters at a future date.

Appropriateness

Meanwhile, we can contemplate the appropriateness of the alacrity with which the contractor general leaps into print or on to the airways to name or shame individuals employed by public bodies whom he deems to have fallen foul of the labyrinthine procurement protocols that have served to constipate the business of government in Jamaica. These inquisitor's methods hark back to a less enlightened age.

As for the articles of legislation that drive the OCG in its mission and embolden the CG's actions, it is evident that disillusionment with their adverse impact on productivity is widespread, hopefully sufficiently so to encourage some enlightened change.

Collective failure

This writer has intentionally refused to comment on the criticisms offered by others. They have collectively failed to appreciate the fact that it would be totally inappropriate to influence by commentary, a matter that is now the subject of investigation by the director of public prosecutions, the attorney general, the commissioner of police - all of whom the contractor general has seen fit to refer his findings.

Personal abuse has no role in constructive journalism. This writer has always had a problem with being able to suffer fools gladly, especially when some of the critics behave as if they are intellectually challenged. Those with personal agendas should tread carefully lest they find themselves travelling on a very lonely road.

The leadership of racing associations needs to concentrate on those areas for which they were elected. The deterioration in the professionalism of the persons licensed to be trainers is a matter of grave concern. When are we going to deal with those 'trainers' who sign for horses that they have not even seen? When are we going to deal with those who attract 'owners' with inducements such as 'jus pay di groom and bring two bag a feed, wen di haarse win yu can gi mi a money!'

The quality of personnel currently licensed to be in the industry needs some serious attention. Grooms who refuse to wear shoes should be discouraged from participation, as also those trainers who don't seem to care. It is not acceptable to excuse this behaviour by saying that this is 'the culture'. The Racing Commission should be more vigilant in the exercise of their responsibilities. They should be visiting the stables on a regular basis to assess the quality and suitability of people whom they license. The level to which the industry has deteriorated is totally unacceptable.

Howard Hamilton is a former president of Racing promotions Limited and Caymanas Park Limited. He is currently the president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, and may be contacted at howham@cwjamaica.com