KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent — This country tied with Israel to place 36th overall among the 183 countries or territories ranked by Transparency International in this year’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
But while the 5.8 score also ranks St. Vincent and the Grenadines as the 8th least corrupt country in the Americas for which date was collected, the score is just 0.8 of a point above what might be considered the minimum passing grade.
The CPI ranks countries or territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be.
The CPI score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 -10, where “0” means that a country is perceived as highly corrupt and “10” means that a country is perceived as very clean.
“The 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index shows that public frustration is well founded,” Transparency International said in the Dec. 1 report, noting the uprising in the Arab world earlier this year.
“No region or country in the world is immune to the damages of corruption,” it further stated, adding, “… the vast majority of the 183 countries and territories assessed score below five.”
Of the Caribbean Community nations included in the index, Barbados was perceived as the cleanest, scoring 7.8 and ranking 2nd in the Americas behind Canada, which scored 9.7.
The Bahamas, which scored 7.3 and ranked 21st overall, was third in the Americas while St. Lucia, which was one position ahead of SVG in the region, was 25th overall with a score of 7 points.
Dominica was 10th in the region and 44th overall, having scored 5.2 while Jamaica, which scored 3.3, was 17th in the Americas and 86th overall with a 3.3 score.
Trinidad and Tobago, 19th in the region and 91st overall, scored 3.3 while Guyana, which scored 2.5, was 134th overall and 28th in the region even as Haiti scored 1.8 to be 175th overall and 32nd in the region.
The United States scored 7.1 to rank 5th in the region and 24th overall while Venezuela scored 1.9, making it 31st in the region and 172nd overall, behind Cuba, which was 12th in the Americas and 61st overall with a score of 4.2.
A country’s rank indicates its position relative to the other countries or territories included in the index.
“This year we have seen corruption on protestors’ banners be they rich or poor. Whether in a Europe hit by debt crisis or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government,” said Huguette Labelle, chair of Transparency International.
The index uses data from 17 surveys that look at factors such as enforcement of anti-corruption laws, access to information and conflicts of interest.
SVG’s ranking was based on three sources of information.
Two thirds of ranked countries score less than 5 and New Zealand ranks first, followed by Finland and Denmark while Somalia and North Korea — included in the index for the first time — are last.
“2011 saw the movement for greater transparency take on irresistible momentum, as citizens around the world demand accountability from their governments. High-scoring countries show that over time efforts to improve transparency can, if sustained, be successful and benefit their people,” said Transparency International Managing Director, Cobus de Swardt.
The organization describes corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.
The data sources used to compile the index include questions relating to the abuse of public power and focus on: bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, embezzlement of public funds, and on questions that probe the strength and effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts in the public sector.
Keep it up SVG but strive for a higher point next time
I am amazed by the finding of Transparency International. I have lists of corruption practices in SVG. Hundreds of offences reported in ministries, ministers, un-investigated money laundering by members of government and others, exclusive jobs for ULP party members, exclusion of NDP from job opportunities, ministers having free houses built by contractors, law gives to ULP members and parliamentarians immunity, Speaker of the House son acting as intermediary in a department in which he works selling the department electronics at inflated prices. I have hundreds of instances.
Please all you out there with something to expose or knowledge to impart please make it public here.
I will eventually send copy to TI.
Peter, I can see the fire really burning you out boy!!!! HAHAHAHA!!!! AH WONDER IF YOU AH ONE AH THE GUERRILLAS???
Peter you just cant stand the thought of anyone saying anything remotely good about SVG eh?…If you are presently living in St. Vincent why dont you migrate to any of the other countries who score a lower grade than and see what it feels like……………………Foolish , Unpatriotic a… ….Regardless of which party you support you can still show some love for you country….
This comment was edited for inappropriate langauge
NO-NONSENSE: Are you talking about my appearance again?
No Peter!!! I meant one of Thomas’ guerrillas to fight his “GUERRILLA WAR”… LOL
WHAT HAPPEN TO THE 2 PS AT AGRICULTURE WHEN THE DIP THEIR HANDS IN THE PUBLIC PURSE AND GOT A SLAP ON THEIR HANDS NOT TO DO IT AGAIN, AND THEN REWARDED WITH HIGHER PAYING JOBS, TRANSPEARENT INTERNATIONAL DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT, NEITHER ALL THE COST OVER RUNS HERE , THEY NEED TO COME ON THE GROUND.
I earlier I asked you to help with information, are you all frightened.
Just as an afterthought, give me your views on this
UN REPORT NOVEMBER 2011: The 193-member assembly passed a resolution condemning “torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” by Iranian authorities with 86 votes in favour, six more than last year, 32 against, down 12 from 2010, and 59 abstentions.
The resolution, proposed by Canada, condemned “flogging and amputations” carried out in Iran and deplored a “dramatic increase” in the use of the death penalty, particularly against minors [death penalty for children]. Many human rights groups say events have deteriorated in Iran over the past year.
Mohammad Javad Larijani, an advisor to Iran’s supreme leader, called the resolution “substantially unfounded and intentionally malicious” in a speech to the General Assembly’s human rights committee.
GUESE HOW SVG VOTED ON THIS IRANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE
UN REPORT NOVEMBER 2011: The North Korea vote was passed with 112 votes in favour, 16 against and 55 abstentions.
The assembly raised “very serious concern” over the “torture” and “inhuman conditions of detention, public executions, extra-judicial and arbitrary detention” in North Korea.
It also condemned the “existence of a large number of prison camps and the extensive use of forced labor.”
GUESE HOW SVG VOTED ON THIS NORTH KOREA HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE
LOL@THESE JOKE SUPPORTERS of the NDP.
If this COUNTRY had GOTTEN a BAD GRADE, they would have been CELEBRATING by CLAIMING it is PRIME MINISTER Dr. Ralph GOnsalves’ FAULT.
Now that SVG has DEMONSTRATED to the INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY that it is one of the LEAST CORRUPT NATIONS in the CARIBBEAN and the WORLD, instead of CELEBRATING our GOOD STANDING, these FOOLS are UPSET at the INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. LOL LOL LOL LOL
I have NEVER EVER seen a BUNCH of DEGENERATES like what is on DISPLAY on a DAILY on this BLOG.