"This really burns my ass"

[Jacky Foo]

Neal:
what is your advice to others after your experience in Kenya ?

++++

Most staff at port authorities around the world will facilitate in the
"fast" exit of goods if given a tip. This happened also in developed
countries.
There is also legal and standard tax imposed by most/all port authorities.

For a project, if a pre-arrangement is made with the government
because of the nature of the goods for humanitarian reasons or for a
national project, then there could be an "order" for tax exemption and
the port officials are informed and instructed to facilitate the exit
of the goods. All that is given is a hand-shake (or plus over a drink
or lunch/dinner).

At the planning stage, if the goverment refuse to give safe and quick
exit of goods (or tax exemption) or sense there is too much
corruption, then I would call off the project development process and
move on/it to another country.

I do continue to have difficulties in Kenya with project partners even
after the approval of the projects and at various stages. Many will
continue to want and to attempt to take an upper hand for financial
gains. One needs to put ones feet down and say - do it the
no-corruption way or "no-project". If the project is for the people
things will go well. If the project is profit making, then everyone
will naturally want a piece of the profit.

There are many ways to reward good work and honest workers in order to
foster good working relationships.

My organization had a routine to send used computers (via Mombasa or
Dar es Salaam ports) to various local authorities and for activities
coordinated by Mayors of the sister cities in Uganda . The recipients
pay their standard taxes and got computers for 100 US$ each (to cover
transport costs). This transport route unfortunately is now broken
because the company helping us took the money and goods and did not
delivery our last shipment.

regards
jacky
P.S: I have more stories to share and to learn how to avoid them

++++++++

2008/7/21 Peter Chabarek <frod...@gmail.com>:
> Oh, it's tragic. What a simple, great project, taken down by the ever
> present corruption in African countries (even worse there than some other
> places).

On Sat, Jul 19, 2008 at 3:08 PM, LINDA WILL KLAUSMEIER POWELL
<willi...@msn.com> wrote:
> This really burns my ass. Such a great project ruined by graft! I think
> I'll write back just out of moral support.

From: CA...@aol.com
date 19 July 2008 14:34
>....the Kenyan officials decided they had better uses for our money and
>repeatedly seized our equipment for new "taxes" they had imposed.
>After three such seizures the project was broke and did not go forward.

From: C...@aol.com
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:43:58 EDT
>Jacky I will respond off the list. I don't think the details of the issues
>we faced are good to be broadcast.

From: "Jacky Foo" <jacky....@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:01:01 +0300
>We are scientists and should make noise to stop corruption.
>
>There are two types of corruption
>(i) where we are partners in it or
>(ii) we are the victims and they know we will keep quiet.
>
>The choice is ours !!!

[CA...@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/21/2008 12:11:42 A.M. Central Daylight Time, jack...@gmail.com writes:

Neal:
what is your advice to others after your experience in Kenya ?

The World Bank provided most of the first  $1.5 million USD funding for the project, apparently this only attracted more attention of the national authorities. They decided that this was a bottomless pit of money to be tapped.

 

Perhaps if we had been less visible we could have done more. But we had to have substantial equipment brought into the country, we had to arrange for fabrication of additional equipment, we negotiated a power purchase agreement with the national power company, and we had to hire local people. So would have been tough to stay low.

 

In retrospect I think we should have had more support from international organizations rather than making this a private contract project. More connections with the international community would have give us more immunity from the graft since more eyes would have been on it.

 

BTW, one of our people met with the president of Malawi who wanted a similar project for their lake but they had no source of international funding at that time.

 

Neal

---

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[Jacky Foo]

2008/7/21 <CA...@aol.com>:

> jack...@gmail.com writes:
> Neal:
> what is your advice to others after your experience in Kenya ?

2008/7/21 <CA...@aol.com>:

> In retrospect I think we should have had more support from
>international organizations rather than making this a private
>contract project.

As a private (profit making) contract project, you are open to the
human vultures because they know you need their help. It is not only
in Kenya....it is also in Asia and other regions.

For example, after Marcos left his country, investors started to
comment that at Marcos time, they knew that they needed to put an
up-front of 10%. After Marcos left, everyone wanted a piece of the
cake and it ended up that investors had to pay more than 10 %.

When locals want more, investors go away. Many countries that remain
under-developed have created such problems.

Kenya has more than 50% of its inhabitants living below the poverty
line. So everyone is trying to earn some extra money or get some
extras.

During the Tsunami disaster, NGOs esp. from Sweden wanted 100 % no
corruption and that all aid should go equally and fairly to everyone
effected. It is impossible to do it if the task is given to the
locals. Even if a foreign team is doing it, the helping staff will
always get a "little" extra, esp in food materials for their own
personal needs (not for sale).

>More connections with the international
>community would have give us more immunity from the graft
>since more eyes would have been on it.

I also think this is true.

(with rare exceptions), I have found working with local authorities
and national ministries a must must more difficult task than working
with NGOs. You need to go to the local authorities for all types of
(created) "permissions". With most NGOs, I work hand-in-hand with them
(doers). I have had many ugly experiences with government officials,
esp. in Uganda.

It is a learning experience and I feel that people outside who wish to
develop projects in such "risk" countries should recruit experienced
people or at least consult them.

"ugly" experiences should not be hidden. Others should learn from such
mistakes that we make. Basically it is our fault to be the victims.

>The World Bank provided most of the first $1.5 million USD

>funding.....

How did World Bank react to the failure of your project ?
Is your company liable for the "loses" (do you have to pay back) ?

regards
jacky