Slight improvement but Guyana still ranked among most corrupt

There has been a slight improvement in Guyana’s ranking in this year’s Transparency International list but it is still listed as being perceived as among the most corrupt.

The 2010 report released today listed Guyana at 2.7 out of 10. The higher the score the less a country is perceived as corrupt. Last year Guyana registered 2.6.

By contrast, this year Barbados was ranked at 7.8, Dominica 5.2, Trinidad and Tobago 3.6, Jamaica 3.3 and Haiti 2.2.

Transparency International (TI) is a global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. Through more than 90 chapters worldwide and an international secretariat in Berlin, TI raises awareness of the damaging effects of corruption and works with partners in government, business and civil society to develop and implement effective measures to tackle it.

According to its website, Transparency International (TI) defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. This definition encompasses corrupt practices in both the public and private sectors. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks countries according to perception of corruption in the public sector. The CPI is an aggregate indicator that combines different sources of information about corruption, making it possible to compare countries.

The 2010 CPI draws on different assessments and business opinion surveys carried out by independent and reputable institutions1. It captures information about the administrative and political aspects of corruption. Broadly speaking, the surveys and assessments used to compile the index include questions relating to bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, embezzlement of public funds, and questions that probe the strength and effectiveness of public sector anti-corruption efforts.