9 December 2010 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged business leaders across the world to denounce corruption and institute measures to combat the vice, in line with the United Nations convention against graft, saying corruption distorted markets and hindered economic growth.
“Corruption acts as a hidden overhead charge that drives up prices and erodes quality without any benefit to producers or consumers. Preventing corruption makes good business sense,” Mr. Ban said in a message to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.
“Increasingly, investors are factoring not only environmental, social and governance considerations into their decision-making, but sound ethical performance as well,” he added.
Mr. Ban noted that the UN Convention against Corruption has helped the public sector to make progress in detecting and preventing graft. State parties to the treaty, which now number 148, last year established a peer review mechanism to identify gaps in national anti-corruption laws and practices, a move he termed “a major breakthrough” that can help governments halt bribe-taking and the embezzlement of public funds.
The UN is itself fighting corruption in its work, he said, by ensuring individual accountability, collaborating with law enforcement agencies, and investigating all possible instances of corruption.
The UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) yesterday brought together representatives from various organizations around the world for a two-day conference aimed at strengthening the role of internal investigations in combating corruption.
“On this International Anti-Corruption Day, let us all do our part to foster ethical practices, safeguard trust and ensure no diversion of the precious resources needed for our shared work for development and peace,” Mr. Ban said.
In particular, he called on businesses to join the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, which provides participants with tools to fight all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery.
To mark the Day, the Global Compact, together with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Ethics Office, is hosting a high-level discussion in New York on the role of the private sector in fighting corruption.
Yury Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director, stressed in his message for the Day the need for the private sector to make effective use of the Convention against Corruption.
“The private sector plays a key role in fostering development, but it is lagging behind the public sector in its efforts to stop corruption,” said Mr. Fedotov. “In the past year, a number of countries have stepped up enforcement of anti-corruption laws, and we have seen high-level prosecutions of major companies, but many of these cases have ended in plea bargains.”
He noted that although companies found culpable in graft cases have paid huge fines, the money stayed in the States where the settlements were reached and none of it went back to countries from which it was taken.
“Ordinary people are the losers. We need to address this integrity deficit. I encourage the working group on asset recovery to look into this,” Mr. Fedotov said, referring to the intergovernmental body set up in 2006 by the parties to the corruption treaty and mandated to advise and assist parties on the issue of the return of proceeds of corruption.
During today’s event, to be held at UN Headquarters, the Global Compact and UNODC will launch the Anti-Corruption E-Learning Programme, an educational online platform.
Well…..when they make the other round ,charlo&mervin will say is Lennox,Matt&Jerry that told the UN so, and my GOD all laborites will believe……feeling so sorry 4 them……alaaaaaaass.
THE UN IS THE CRADDLE OF CORRUPTION……I HOPE HE LOOKS INTO THE UN AND WIPE IT OUT , THEN SPEAK
The US has threatened to pull out of the UN for so many times for alleged corruption?
I think life is a cycle
lol
that is a joke!
A lot of posts on many different stories on this site ask people to grow up, act mature, stop being a little boy etc. I know this may not mean anything to most of you but the greatest insult that the white man used on the african slaves and then freed negroes was to call them boy or little boy and so on. Funny that that we are using on each other for the very same reason. It also says something about the people doing the name calling.
What a joke. The U.N. is behind much of the corruption.
So does that mean it’s OKAY?
But even the dead ones rocking in the cemetry they never could belive Labour could have corrupted Dominica so much……
Jerry go al the way with this…keep the UN agencies info thats they key…get the Cia to apply pressure in sectors which will cause and force people to have a uprising which will lead to the downfall of the Corrupted Labour Regime…
they guy you spoke to from Washington on Q today give him all the leads let the agencies work to place pressure on sectors to this Government will learn the hard way..as talk will never rock Labour off the chair….its needs outside help in a skillfull manner to press Labour out..
If you are smart you will steer clear of the CIA and U.N. for any type of resolution. They work for the elite, not for you.
the sad thing is d.l.p might jus win again,,,,i wonder what those red acolytes waiting to see happen,,,,,
Is Dominica a signatory to the UN CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION? Civil Society, and Opposition Parties must alert the UN and other anti-corruption institutions in the world to assist us the citizens of Dominica to investigate the numerous corrupt activities now taken place in our beautiful Island, bring those involved before the courts and LET JUSTICE BE DONE.
The article states that a number of countries have stepped up enforcement of anti-corruption laws, and we have seen high-level prosecutions. However, in Dominica the opposite happens. Those in Public Office who are involved in bribery and other corrupt practices are given protection. In some instances, some admit that they simply made a mistake and return to pay back the money stolen. No anti-corruption law is enforced. The BIG WIGS go Scott Free.
The judicial system is in shambles. Protectors of the laws are manipulated. Institutions are crumbling right under our noses. Those with ‘Power,’ ‘Money’ and ‘Influence’ have taken control. I concur that “Ordinary people are the losers.” Dominicans need to address this integrity deficit.
A classic example occurred a few days ago. The Magistrate signed and issued a warrant to arrest a certain lawyer who has worked for and is a close friend of PM Skerrit. The document was sent to the police to effect the request of arrest by the Magistrate. Low and Behold, that lawyer was never arrested by the police. The Ag. Chief of Police excuse was that he was out of State. So no arrest for PM Skerritt close friend. To add insult to injury, the court refused to read the charges to the lawyer through some KOKOMAKAK or TRIAL AMBUSH as the claimant’s lawyer indicated.
Will the DLP Govt. and institutions exercise the WILL to strengthen the role of internal investigations in combating corruption, which is bringing Dominica to the Gutters? When will our laws be respected for the good of Democracy and against corruption? If we do not act now, Dominica will be DOOMED.
And if after investigations of alleged corruption… it turns out that most, if not all, allegations are false, should the government and all other being called voleh and corrupt daily take the opposition to court?
Seems only fair…. you people just don’t seemto get that all the opposition has are ALLEGATIONS of corruption. Time and time again they have failed to show concrete proof and evidence of these alleged corrupt acts (besides shouting it from the mountain tops- hoping that rumour becomes fact) but they continue with cliches like ‘ the writing is on the wall’ idiotic comments like ‘ our democracy is threatened’ … living in a police state…Oh Please!!!!!!
Now who can blame them for using the same tactic that DLP used to get them out of office…. “shout corruption, corruption” UWP did the same thing to freedom (although they went further with the bugging fiasco)
I really hope some day soon, this joke of an opposition both the UWP and DFP, will come out and say or do something constructive that would let the rest of Dominica regard them as viable alternatives to present government such as please one of you: Mr. John, Mr. James, or mr Green highlight for the dominican public sometime soon:
A. your economic plan and policy for the next 10 years- details please- not the usual generalised “job creation’; tax collection- remove the VAT (that you criticised heavily) immediately.
Immediately take a salary cut?
B. your foreign policy- are you going to immediately sever ties with china, venezuela, cuba and all other “friends of skerrit” as you call them?
C. What is your health plan? How do you intend to improve social security?
D. What social programs do you have in mind? How long will they take to implement? who will benefit in the long term and short? How will they be funded?
E. Your fight on crime- employ more ploice officers? how will they be paid? Increased taxes?
F. What is your policy on Education – Many students need financial aid- you criticised the government for their policy…whats yours
When we get the answer to these questions…then i will march to any song that you play…In the meantime GROW UP!
hi tony , how is st vincent ,having a good time?
strategising how ulp winning more sits that the svg have constituencies…lol
mmmmmmmh. Is all this by coincidence. Go Jerry! Go Jerry! All this just seems to be falling in place and supporting the relevance of Jerry’s action. Corruption sucks, Thata the point and all those who engage in it need to be exposed and dealt with. IT DOES NOT CREATE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. EVERYTHING IN LIFE NEEDS BALANCE. CORRUPTION CREATS IMBALANCE.
Hahahahah!! WOW! Jerry will that vindicate you/ You are a businessman right? Wow! Wow! Wow! Thanks DNO for punblising this article..
why……………who i’m i hurting here…………..if i don’t then someone else will…………one life to live why can’t i make myself happy……………….We need GOD………….he makes the rule………….we should live annd abide by those rules.
having strong ethics is not good enough. why………….why not………………BECAUSE GOD SAYS SO
DNO careful they doh say you running anti-government articles eh…vey kow!