Dear Editor,
My attention was caught by a news item captioned ‘Facebook probe leads to Scotia Bank IT Centre’ (SN, September 16).
As a former staff member of Scotia Bank in Canada, I find this to be an appalling departure from the high ethical and legal standards that have been the hallmark and foundation of Scotia Bank.
The issue that has gripped the Jamaican banking industry in the main revolves around the dismissal of William ‘Bill’ Clarke after allegations of certain wrongdoings by him in Jamaica, were made to bank’s headquarters in Toronto. (See Jamaica Gleaner, March 1, 2009]
Whatever the merits or otherwise of Clarke’s manner of dismissal, it is now under judicial consideration. What is very clear is that the bank will not tolerate behaviour that is inconsistent with its corporate mission statement and will not allow its personnel to use their positions to carry out personal vendettas.
While not prejudging the events in Jamaica, it is hardly likely that Scotia Bank would ever endorse or authorize such illegality. It may be the case that an individual staff member took it upon him/herself, to pursue such a reckless and dangerous path. The saving grace in all of this is that Clarke decided to fight what he concluded was sheer bullyism. For this he should be highly commended.
No financial institution likes to be embroiled and engaged in petty disputes or carry out personal vendettas against anyone. It makes no sense. On the other hand, commonsense dictates that financial institutions behave like responsible corporate citizens, mostly keeping below the radar and avoiding any conduct that is illegal, improper and unethical, or which could be deemed arrogant. It is in this context, therefore, that I find it quite alarming that Scotiabank’s IT Centre in Jamaica is the location of such mischief.
As a customer of Scotiabank, I sincerely hope that no customer is subject to such wild conduct. This behaviour must never be replicated in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Jerome Khan
