The Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) Report 2024 has found that in Guyana state capture by economic and political elites “fosters misappropriation of resources, illicit enrichment and an environmental crime”.
“Although the country has created anti-corruption institutions and laws, transparency and law enforcement are very low, and attacks on dissenting voices, activists and journalists are increasingly common,” the report said of Guyana.
And in the fourth full year of the PPP/C’s government, the perception of corruption in Guyana has risen as the country dropped by one point in the score in the CPI index.
Last year’s report, as in 2022, had concluded that the country had improved slightly and had given it a score of 40, which was one point higher than 2021’s score.
This year’s Guyana score is 39 and it ranks 92 out of 180 countries compared to 87 and 85 in 2023 and 2022 respectively. Other countries with the same score and rank as Guyana are Colombia, Tunisia and Zambia.
In 2021 the country went down by two points from the previous year with a score of 39 and ranking of 87 out of 180 countries.
According to the report a country’s score is the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0-100, where 0 means highly corrupt and 100 means very clean.
A country’s rank is its position relative to the other countries in the index. Ranks can change merely if the number of countries included in the index changes. The rank is therefore not as important as the score in terms of indicating the level of corruption in that country, the report indicated.
Denmark and Finland once again led the way with scores of 90 and 88 respectively followed by Singapore with 84. On the other side of the spectrum South Sudan, Somalia and Venezuela recorded scores of 8, 9 and 10 respectively.
Guyana still remains way below the leaders in the region, Barbados and The Bahamas. Barbados’ score went down by one point as it now stands at 69 compared to 68 but ranks 23 out of 180 countries. The Bahamas scored 65 points and ranks at 28. Guyana is also below Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Suriname, Grenada and St Lucia. The only CARICOM country that Guyana is ahead of is Haiti which registered a score of 18 and a ranking of 168, an improvement from its rank and score last year.
From 2012 Guyana saw scores of 28, 27, 30, 29, 34, 38, 37, 40, 41 and 39 with 2022 and 2023 seeing scores of 40.
According to the 2024 CPI corruption is a dangerous problem in every part of the world, but change for the better is happening in many countries.
“Research also reveals that corruption is a major threat to climate action. It hinders progress in reducing emissions and adapting to the unavoidable effects of global heating,” the report said.
It noted that while 32 countries have significantly reduced their corruption levels since 2012, there’s still a huge amount of work to be done – 148 countries have stayed stagnant or gotten worse during the same period. “The global average of 43 has also stood still for years, while over two-thirds of countries score below 50. Billions of people live in countries where corruption destroys lives and undermines human rights,” it added.
The data sources to compile the CPI looks at bribery, diversion of public funds, officials using their public office for private gains with consequences, ability of governments to contain corruption in the public sector, excessive red tape in public sector which may increase opportunities for corruption, nepotistic appointments in public office, laws ensuring the public officials must disclose their finances and potentials to conflict of interests, legal protection for people who report bribery and corruption, state caption by narrow vested interests, and access to information and public affairs. All of these areas are examined under the public sector.
Countries’ scores are a combination of at least three data sources drawn form 13 different corruption surveys and assessments. The data sources, according to the report, are collected by a variety of reputable institutions, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. CPI said that scores do not reflect the views of Transparency International staff.