Accountability Watch

In our last two articles, we discussed Chapter 3 of the recently released Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report entitled “Economic Institutions for a Resilient Caribbean” dealing with public financial management (PFM) with specific emphasis on Guyana.

In last week’s article, we began a discussion of the important topic of public financial management (PFM), drawing in part on the contents of the recently released Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report entitled “Economic Institutions for a Resilient Caribbean” as well as our own experience of the subject.

Last week, the print media reported on certain aspects of the recently released Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report as they relate to Guyana.

The affairs of the National Assembly are governed by its Standing Orders, amended from time to time.

Corruption results from a variety of economic, institutional, political and historical factors.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was recently found guilty of corruption for trying to bribe a judge and influence-peddle in exchange for confidential information relating to an investigation into his 2007 campaign finances.

Numerous individuals have raised their voices in condemnation of what has transpired in the National Assembly during the debate on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 2021.

Corruption devastates the lives of billions of people around the world, while its deadliness has become all the more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis.

On Friday, 12 February 2021, the Minister responsible for Finance presented to the National Assembly the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the fiscal year 2021.

On 4 February 2021, the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act 2021 was passed in the National Assembly.

In last week’s article, we discussed Transparency International’s (TI) 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index.

COVID-19 is not just a health and economic crisis, but also a corruption crisis… Countries with high levels of corruption also relied less on democratic responses to the COVID-19 crisis, leading to democratic backsliding in many regions of the world. More

Before proceeding with today’s article, we wish to clarify that the views expressed in last week’s article entitled “Global Witness’s withdrawal of its report on Guyana” are those of this columnist.

Last February, Global Witness issued a report entitled “SIGNED AWAY: How Exxon’s exploitative deal deprived Guyana of up to US$55 billion”.

The Auditor General carried out a special audit of the fees paid by the Ministry of Legal Affairs for legal services during the period May 2015 to August 2020.

On 23 December 2020, the Auditor General’s report on the audit of the public accounts for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2019 was laid in the National Assembly.

On 10 December 2020, the Auditor General presented to the Speaker of the National Assembly his report on the audit of the public accounts for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2019.

Our objective is not only not to have more exploitation of new oil and gas resources (but also] to make sure that a meaningful part of oil and gas already discov- ered stays below the surface.

Last Wednesday was International Anti-Corruption Day, a day when governments, businesses and civil society join hands to renew their commitment to end the devastating effects of corruption on the lives of citizens worldwide.

Last week, it was reported that the UK Government, through the Department for International Development, is providing Jamaica’s Integrity Commission with approximately £550,000 for institutional strengthening in the following key areas: (i) development of an electronic system for filing of declarations with the Commission; (ii) drafting of Regulations to support the Integrity Commission Act; (iii) crafting of a corruption risk assessment; and (iv) development of a national anti-corruption strategy.