Despite strong constitutional, legislative and regulatory systems to fight corruption, meaningful progress continues to elude us. (Final)

In our article of 5 February 2024, we began a discussion on  the various anti-corruption measures implemented by the Guyanese authorities over the years and what may have been reasons for Guyana continuing to score poorly on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.  We identified 13 such measures, including the passing of the Integrity Commission Act in 1997; the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003, the Procurement Act 2003; the Audit Act 2004; the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 and its subsequent amendments; and the Natural Resource Fund Act 2021.

Today’s article concludes our discussion on the subject.

Ratification of the UNCAC in 2008

The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. It was adopted by the General Assembly on 31 October 2003 by Resolution 58/4. UNCAC came into force on 14 December 2005, and as of October 2023 there were 190 parties to the Convention. It is unfortunate Guyana was not one of the 140 signatories to the Convention. It nevertheless acceded to it five years later, on 16 April 2008.