Sir, - If I did not have such a high regard for John O'Shea's sincerity and genuine outrage at the poverty of many in the so-called Third World, I would have dismissed his article (August 12th) on Saturday as nothing more than a racist rant.
Indeed, what really energised me to write this letter was how patronising and dismissive he was of the efforts of African parliamentarians who formed the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption to root out corruption themselves.
John O'Shea wrote: "I remain sceptical of their chances of success so ingrained is corruption in the African psyche". What does that view of local people translate into on the ground in running projects in Africa? They cannot be trusted? We really have to stop that kind of dangerous stereotyping which is not only insulting to the people of Africa but also must inevitably help in fomenting racist attitudes here. (And with racism literally rampant in Ireland at present we all need (including this correspondent) to examine our own attitudes, policies and approaches to people especially from African countries in a very critical way right now?)
I have visited Africa a number of times filming documentaries on development and human rights themes. I know very well the practical frustrations and real pain on the ground that corruption can present in some areas for local people in getting even simple things done. But with leadership, as we have seen in Ireland, the process of rooting out corruption can at least begin. And African politicians tackling this problem deserve better than a patronising salvo urging the Irish Government to divert all Irish aid through our aid agencies because the Africans cannot be trusted. - Yours, etc.,
Ronan Tynan, Producer/Director, Esperanza Productions, Tritonville Road, Dublin 4.