Guyana remains ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world, according to the 2009 Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released yesterday.
In a survey of 180 countries, Guyana was ranked 126 for the second straight year, with a score of 2.6 out of 10. The country is again the lowest ranked English-speaking Caribbean nation on the list and the second lowest ranked Caricom territory, behind Haiti. Guyana shares its ranking with Syria and Tanzania.
A majority of the countries in the index scored below five on a scale from zero (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (perceived to have low levels of corruption).As a result, TI said the corruption challenge is undeniable. It noted that corruption continues to lurk “where opacity rules, where institutions still need strengthening and where governments have not implemented anti-corruption legal frameworks.”
New Zealand (9.4), Denmark (9.3), Singapore and Sweden (9.2) as well as Switzerland (9.0) ranked the highest, with scores that are said to reflect political stability, long-established conflict of interest regulations and solid, functioning public institutions.
TI, which is based in Germany, is a global civil society organisation that fights against corruption. The CPI measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in a given country and is a composite index, drawing on 13 different expert and business surveys. Four surveys were used to determine Guyana’s score. The number of indicators has been a point of contention for the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, which has also criticised the source of the data.
For Caribbean nations, Barbados (7.4) was ranked the highest, jumping two places to 20, just ahead of St. Lucia (7.0) which slipped one place to 22, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (6.4) at 31, Dominica (5.9) at 34, Suriname (3.7) at 75, Trinidad and Tobago (3.6) at 79, the Dominican Republic (3.0) at 99, and Jamaica (3.0) at 99.
According to regional highlights of the CPI, 10 of the 31 countries from the Americas scored above 5, while 21 scored less than 5, indicating “a serious corruption problem.” Further, noting that nine of the countries failed to score over 3, TI said there is an indication of “rampant corruption.” Additional-ly, with the exception of Guatemala, no country in the region showed an increase in its CPI score.
TI said although each country has its own particular context, across the board the effects of the financial crisis and the subsequent economic downturn have highlighted the crucial importance of governance in the private and public sectors and the relationships between the two, particularly in respect to stimulus packages which are already pumping large amounts of money into badly affected economies. It added that states across the region-rich and poor-will have to respond by ensuring that these funds are handled with integrity.
In a statement, TI noted that no region is immune to the perils of corruption as the world economy begins to register a tentative recovery and some nations continue to wrestle with ongoing conflict and insecurity. “At a time when massive stimulus packages, fast-track disbursements of public funds and attempts to secure peace are being implemented around the world, it is essential to identify where corruption blocks good governance and accountability, in order to break its corrosive cycle” said Huguette Labelle, Chair of TI. “Stemming corruption requires strong oversight by parliaments, a well performing judiciary, independent and properly resourced audit and anti-corruption agencies, vigorous law enforcement, transparency in public budgets, revenue and aid flows, as well as space for independent media and a vibrant civil society,” Labelle said too, adding “The international community must find efficient ways to help war-torn countries to develop and sustain their own institutions.”
TI observed that when essential institutions are weak or non-existent, corruption spirals out of control and the plundering of public resources feeds insecurity and impunity. Corruption, it added, also normalises a seeping loss of trust in the very institutions and nascent governments charged with ensuring survival and stability.
It insisted that countries at the bottom of the index cannot be shut out from development efforts. Instead, it said, what the index points to is the need to strengthen their institutions. According to TI, investors and donors should be equally vigilant of their operations and as accountable for their own actions as they are in demanding transparency and accountability from beneficiary countries.
TI said the Group of 20 has made strong commitments to ensure that integrity and transparency form the cornerstone of a newfound regulatory structure. “As the G20 tackles financial sector and economic reforms, it is critical to address corruption as a substantial threat to a sustainable economic future,” it said. TI added, “The G20 must also remain committed to gaining public support for essential reforms by making institutions such as the Financial Stability Board and decisions about investments in infrastructure, transparent and open to civil society input.”
It will get better when we get rid of the pppeeee through the next general elections. ….
Being ranked 126 out of 180 hardly makes Guyana one of the MOST corrupt countries! Who writes this stuff?
LET US LOOK AT THE CURIOUS CASE OF USA:
Checkout, the $35 million estate belonging to Teodoro Nguema Obiang, the agriculture minister of Equatorial Guinea and the son of its ruler, in Malibu, Calif., in the lower center of the frame.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/us/17visa.html?scp=1&sq=Equitorial%20Guinea&st=cse
The doors of the USA are open to Mr. Obiang, even though federal law enforcement officials believe that “most if not all” of his wealth comes from corruption.
And they are open despite a federal law and a presidential proclamation that prohibit corrupt foreign officials and their families from receiving American visas.
END OF REALITY-CHECK
who will get rid of them through a democratic process, NONE, NARA, ZIT.
S.F. corrupt politicians.
Sandman a hearing that tune years now boi,plenty different singers, but same tune
It’s time all them different singers do it in one voice. More harmony.
on behalf of the GOG this can not be true and we will be taking court action for defamation. yeah right you have to laugh again not something the GOG dont know from time but will they address the issue no denial and blaming others will do. Every dog has its day when guyana inherit a young president i thought innovation and change was gonna come but a script of bad habits persist.
Bhai Satish, Guyana was first listed by TI in 2005 ranked 117, then lowered to 121 in 2006, then lowered again in 2007 to 123, then – you guessed it – lowered once more to 126 in 2008, where we are still ranked in 2009 – http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2009
Of course this does not make Guyana the most corrupt, nor can this take away from the fact that Guyana was already corrupt in 1992. Agreed too, there are monumental problems all over the world, but does this mean we should throw our hands in the air and accept we couldn’t do better? Is this the change we were promised and fought for?
Sorry mate, there is no way the pnceeee gon beat the pppeeee in the next general election. Not even a coalation with afceeee gon come close when dey count up the votes. Take this missive very seriously man. Some ahwe dese gon glad dat we live overseas like in America or foggy London. Is pppeeee in office for a long time.
A movement of plus/minus 5 in a sample size of 180 is hardly something to over-react to, Gerhard.
Guyana MUST NOT be complacent and MUST TRY DO BETTER, however I do not need to go into details with you of the UNIQUE AND DEBILITATING DIFFICULTIES FACING GUYANA.
FRANKLY, I MUST SAY THAT EVEN WITH GOVERNMENTS OF AFC OR PNC OR PPP; THAT GUYANA IS DOOMED.
DIFFERENT PARTIES WILL JUST VARY THE DATE OF DOOMSDAY.
YOU SEE, THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MINDSET OF THE PEOPLE.
USA is most everything. Most corrupt, most crime, most democratic, most populated… Obama administration has a cloud of questionable activities by his government hanging over his head just like Jagdeo. Who can beat USA for corruption, not Guyana. Guyana prosecute their drug lords, USA let them run around free…oh man, and the list goes on.
Keep on dreaming buddy.The PPP is going nowhere.
“In a survey of 180 countries, Guyana was ranked 126 for the second straight year, with a score of 2.6 out of 10. For Caribbean nations, Barbados (7.4) was ranked the highest, jumping two places to 20, just ahead of St. Lucia (7.0) which slipped one place to 22…”
Hey Reddy, I now see why you, Rickey Singh and Sir Shridath Ramphal and thousands of Guyanese, especially Indians, are fleeing to Barbados. problem is, I don’t understand your twisted logic in continuing to defend the corrupt cabal running the government.
Reddy only appear to be stupid…of course he know how to butter his own bread in another country and only sing songs about his beloved government at home from afar…..quite smart, ain’t he?
Anyway, why gripe about guyana’s position? Afterall I’ll agree with Randy Persaud that this is a marked improvement by the Jagdeo administration over the past years….Jagdeo has managed to stem the tide…afterall we did not slip lower….we are poised for a take off with the Norwegian money.
Stay tune for Wiggins.
I think they stand to gain from it Andy.
corruption is kill guyana , have a look at bim , they are go some thing right , maybe the ppp should go over there and see how to run a government
I would question this survey, In Trinidad,”BauBaul” as they call it, is rife. The difference between Guyana and Trinidad, is in Guyana corruption runs the full gauntlet of the society, where as in T&T its mostly amoung the “big boys”, but in T&T the thiefing and corruption is so great that the money can buy Guyana many times over. I think the likes of T&T should be behind Guyana.As far as the caribbean is concerned I wouldn’t pay much attention to this survey, since not enough attention was paid to the caribbean when putting the report together
ALWAYS AN ANSWER
You seem to forget the smaller island any minister can get tossed in jail once they mess with the law, but in Guyana that aint so. Guyana cannot be compared to Trinidad. Even if there is massive government corruption in Trinidad, the people of Trinidad enjoy a much better lifestyle than Guyana. Also the standard of living of the citizen of the smaller islands are better off than Guyana. One man showed me the amount of money he made & can save per month in Trinidad, is less than his salary in Guyana per month. These are things that are not taken into consideration when these arguments by bloggers are being made. It really amazing how some people think.
seal the farmers are also having a wonderful life, classified who are struggling,
the truth some cannot handle.
all those living in the city and want a city life are the ones struggling.
you don’t want me to go there ???????????????????????????????
and explain in detail then again the AXE man is BIAS TO THE CORE>
Wait I thought it was the Opposition alone who saw this!!!! Well all PPP/C …. sorry BBB/A (Build Burn & Build Again) need to look carefully…. the truth continues to unveil.
Wow finally something is printed that we all didn’t know.
no not we. some of us, in Barbados we have a reshow every 3 month about that sorry not hard feeling
When last did you visit Guyana?
Starts from the upper echelons…what a shame!!!
When the PPP took over the government in 1992, corruption was already in place therefore they inherited it.
yes BR, but the ppp took it to another level.
AND IT BLOSSOMED MORE!!!
If this report is correct which I doubt based on the source of their information,,,The PPP government has not done the correct thing Jagdeo continues to embrace Dr Jagan’s principles which created this monster,,,He has one year to get it done and that is to get rid of all the Burnhamites at the helm of Government Ministries who were well trained by Burnham on the practices of bribery and corruption and stop listening to the handful that are crying discrimination whenever the right calls are made….
u right so every 1 that going in now try to make it better
Bismattie Ramsawak have you ever rent a house? Well, you would know that before you move in you go and clean it out. Repaint it, put new blinds, cut the the grass etc.
On the other hand how come the ppp kept the corruption? I did not know that that’s an inheritance you would want to keep after returning to democracy.
I guess that makes it their “birth right” then – no need for them change anything. That is progress.
I agree,but the ppp was to lead us forward ,but look what the did ,they took us way to the back.they took corruption to it’s highest.
However, it has been 17 odd years and the corruption, nepotism, and cronyism is at the highest ever. This regime has turned a blind eye to the drug barons. Roger Khan and others are proof of the government complacency. Burnham was a dictator, yes. However, the PPP has taken top prize on corruption and dictatorship that outshines anything from the past.
Bismattie, yes indeed corruption was already in place when the PPP took over. There is corruption everywhere BUT the PPP have made it the new alphabet, an art form …. whatever spin you want to put on it. This government has taken corruption to a new level and made it Guyana’s staple.
Typical warped, twisted thinking but the ppp promised change. They said that they inherited rigged elections, now apply your reasoning. Pradaville is a prime example of why Guyana’s earned it’s marks. This report is way too generous.
That may be true but what have they done to correct it in all the years they have been ruling…if you continue to live in the past you will have no future.
once i see you used your brains, in a constructive manner.
this is the truth they all refused to comprehend, now no one was a part of the PNC, they all ????????????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????????????????from that period 1966-1992.
SO Mr Bismattie what advise will you give the president to stop the corruption in guyana
Basmattie. Working my way up the ranks, I saw things that were wrong taking place in the company I work for. When I became a manager, I rooted them out. There is no blame game under my watch. I am accountable for my operation. The buck stops with me. So talking about the PPP inheriting corruption, is a lame excess. An excuse is just what it is, an excuse. The PPP government was voted into office to make changes, not to amplify what they inherited.
Well said BR and it will continue no matter who rules.Corruption is a Guyanese culture since Noah Built Guyana.
Ramsawak, what twisted logic!! The only missing explicit reference is the name “Burnham”. Go on, tell us more, but conclude by telling us that the current Government has made corruption an art form;tell us that the PPP has huge flow-process charts with meticulous details of how best to demoralize the nation and that these charts spann the walls of that building on Robb street;tell us that after 1992 drugs,murder,kidnapping,Vat,sex crimes, poor infrastructure,poor education et all are prominently featured on the flow-process chart; tell us that the chart cannot be re-worked because the CEO demands that there be no change. Guess what? The next CPI report will list Guyana’s standing in Roman numerals, unless………. ISNM
LOLOLOLOL. You make it sound like the 2.6 that TI has Guyana at was inherited from the PNC? Believe me Bismattie The best Government this country has ever seen was under Hoyte. There has not either before or after had a better government than that. The 2.6 is PPP doing.
So if your neighbor was stealing mangoes in yard for years before you buy the house,that make it right? C’mon !!!
BR, I notice you and soldier united on this one. Maybe you can kiss and make up.
My question is why da PPP did not clean it up & throw who ever in jail for it. No because they believe they own Guyana. nah we all own a piece of Guyana.
Nature has blessed Guyana , abundantly , but the political leaders , for the past 40 years have brought shame and disgrace to the country . Guyana is a comfort zone for criminals and a well nourished culture of corruption is blooming . Jagdeo and his govt needs replacing by honest guyanese . Guyanese have contributed to their demise , big-time .
“Where there is no vision , the people perish” .
Bismattie ! What nonsense is that ? Inheriting corruption ? The PPP made a clean sweep of personnel in business and industry that resembled the face of the former gov’t. They then reorganized the playing field to suit their purpose. Get real. Look at the issuance of gun licences by the PPP for starters.
Soldier, don’t forget that Jagdeo was trained by Burnham and was employed under haslyn parris and roy ibbot at the state planning secretariat……ehehehehehehe…be careful for what you wish for.
Bismattie how can a government inherited corruption thats a silly thing to say. although peoples opinion may vary but didnt Chávez root out corruption at least he may not conform to US standards but hasnt the boy done well. and who crys in his country aint it the once powerful who can not get there own way. i suggest you retract inherited corruption
Diamond well said
Hey Bas, this is first sensible thing you said so far.
So how come I never paid a bribe for anything in my life? Simple. I refused.
same as me bro:::::
There are those of us with something called integrity and honesty.
MXQ, indirectly you have or sometimes directly. Remember the kiss you planted on your mother’s face before she granted permission for you to attend Rookmin’s wedding? ISNM
Mike.Did you ever receive any. Are you sure that you were not surreptitiously bribed by the media to donate blood.
I guess that why you are still there.
Mike. Me glad de bridge finish, because me used to bribe dem T&HD people every time me bin back home at Rosignol and New Amsterdam. It was either dem mosquitos de bite me up and/or me lose me flight fo come back to the USA and lose me job. In Guyana, you either have connections, or you bribe. Evil, like you get connections. Mike keep it up. You are a man of integrity.
The only they give me when I donate blood is a lil piece paper saying I donate blood to save lives. Sometimes they gimme a can juice, like Monday gone, or a Malta, or a pack swinjie biscuit, or a T-shirt that doesn’t fit me, or a red rubber wrist band. Anyway I got a a lil house, lil education, a lil wuk, lil bit happiness, nuff helath and strength and I get to see the Queen’s England for a year free … all without strings or passing money under the table … maybe is my luck or fate or roll of the dice …
… all I did was to make sure I fill all the forms correctly and dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s …
I knew a businessman once who was so short all his deals had to be made under the table.
mx`it is good to see we have power…..noooo blackout soo far,keeping my fingers cross.
That is why you are still in Guyana my friend.
Do we now understand why our dear President has made his trip to Syria?
What do they say again about birds of a feather?
what will you classify burnham visit with Mugabe.
how brainless is that.
…watch out, TI will get a ‘cuss down’ from the apologist ostriches.
freespeach, Burnham died in 1985 – before i was born! I guess it is also brainless to move on. There are too many like you in Guyana.
Maybe you are too young to appreciate the importance of history, ppp_pnc but you must learn that if you forget history you do so at your PERIL.
Know that we have all moved on and that Guyana is trying real hard to catch up with her more fortunate peers in the Caribbean.
Have no fear that we have moved on but forget? N E V E R ?
And neither should you, for the reason I mentioned.
Freespeech, i see you have a lot of learning to do. mugabe was still struggling to win the freedom of rodesia at the time from England. he also sent money to the freedom fighters in south africa who were fighting apartheid. cheddi jagan condemn it but still showed up when mandella was sworn in. boy was he out of place. ever wonder why mandella never came to guyana but ibstead went to trinidad….i see you have a lot of learning to do.
Satish I said nothing about forgetting history. If you know anything about [the study of] history, you will know that there is much more to it than simply recalling events. The world has changed significantly since 1985. Perhaps to compensate for their lack of understanding of the world as it it today, and their inability to be bold and forward thinking, many people harp about not forgetting history. There is a place for history; that place is in the past, and the things that happened then should be analysed and understood, not embraced.
Watch out for the brainless counterarguments from the ironic Freedom House.
There is already one above you. LOLOLOL