PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Feb 29 2016 – We need better collaboration between integrity commissions and anti-corruption agencies to eradicate corruption in the Caribbean, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Deodat Maharaj has said.
Mr Maharaj was speaking at the start of the 2nd Commonwealth Regional Meeting for Heads of Integrity Commissions and Anti-corruption Bodies in Commonwealth Caribbean. The Forum of regional integrity commissions, anti-corruption agencies, global experts and other stakeholders, began today in Trinidad and Tobago and will run until 4th March 2016.
According to the World Economic Forum, corruption is estimated to cost more than five percent of the global GDP, or a staggering US$2.6 trillion, with more than US$1 trillion paid in bribes every year.
“Caribbean countries are already facing economic challenges such as unsustainable levels of debt and vulnerabilities due to climate change. They simply cannot afford to fall victim to corruption,” said Mr Maharaj.
He added: “When those in positions of power abuse public or private office for personal gain, it robs our citizens of important resources, such as access to healthcare, a good education and the infrastructure required for successful entrepreneurships.
“We are calling on governments to demonstrate that they are ready to make a stand and stamp out this injustice. Our aim over the next three days is to work with integrity commissions and anticorruption agencies to agree on viable and effective solutions.”
The meeting was organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Integrity Commission and the Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies in Commonwealth Caribbean, which was formed at the 2015 Commonwealth meeting on anticorruption in Grenada. The body was set up to create networks to improve governance and reduce corruption in the region.
Commonwealth Secretariat anti-corruption expert, Roger Koranteng, said “rooting out” systemic corruption at both the national and international levels, one of the mandates of the 2005 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, remains a priority for the Commonwealth Secretariat.
“Over the course of the next few days we will be working with our regional partners to agree on sound and tailored strategies and a range of services to fight corruption. We will be exploring options such as annual peer reviews to encourage transparency and share best practice.”
So the kettle is calling the pot black and the fox is guarding the hen house!
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Alot of Corruption in UWP, this needs investigation why most the Ministers in the UWP Party are not in agreement with what Lennox is doing? It’s like a one man show there.
“They keep talking about corruption when there is much of that in their country.”(Face the Facts).
Face the Facts, Kid on Block; Facts, and all the names you use: I had intentions of not saying anything insulting to you anymore, nevertheless, after reading that bit of rubbish in your post, I am unable to overlook look it and so I must ask you to shut-up.
It is your kind who encourages the politicians in Dominica to thief the peoples money; it is people like you who encourages politicians and their colleagues in Dominica to sell the nation passport and thief the money. They are talking about ridding the entire Caribbean of corruption in government, and among Caribbean people in general.
You are blind, and want thieving conduct of politicians in Dominica to continue you are prepared to focus on what they have in their country, rather than condemned the corrupted thieves operating in Dominica’s government. I do not believe you have an honest bone in your body; you support…
I do not believe you have an honest bone in your body; you support too much evil, corruption, and victimization, and lies in Dominica.
Have you any ethics or moral left in you?
People who like to talk about God must have a honest tongue, and clean thought, they are not supposed to protect thieves vagabonds dressed in coat and tie committing whit color crime every bloody day, ad they do it because the know that there are people like you who will support their criminal behavior.
You Facts, Kid On Block Face the Facts, Facts, and all other names you use should be ashamed of yourself!
Telemaque, speak for yourself. I cannot be bothered with you.
I can bet you are by no means better than I.
You are always accusing and judging others whom you disagree with.
Grow up and be matured.
Learn: “Free to agree and disagree.”
Cease your consistent criticisms and attacking people on this Website. You are not more intelligent than we are.
Trinidad invented Corruption in the Caribbean from the 50s.. Trinidad taught the rest of the Caribbean, the art of corruption, so how come Trinidad playing most Holy thou art now!!! Trinidad is upset that the rest of the Caribbean have now beat them at their own game and we in the rest of the Caribbean have perfected the art , that Trinidad invented and taught the rest of the Caribbean.
Even at that Peter when they are caught they are made to pay back every dime the thief, and along with that they get fired. Less than two years ago, someone had to pay back several hundred thousand dollars, that person I believe served in the Diego Martin constituency, ask Trevor about that perhaps he has the scoop on it.
As a child, I recall how bad Trinidad was. As the years progressed, it got worst. We do hear and read about it.
You will recall that the previous T&T PM implemented a curfew but it did not help much. She, at least tried.
I have relatives and friends there. I have visited there a few times but it is a place I am scared of. I really do not have the urge to visit again although I know I would be relatively safe. I may consider it sometime.
This is why the D/can authorities must do their utmost to eradicate especially the big-time crimes.
God created us to live in harmony and peace and not in fear of human beings as ourselves.
We must pray for world peace and safety/security.
They keep talking about corruption when there is much of that in their country.
There is a lot occurring in T & T. One of it is crimes. This too is corruption. First, do your best to eradicate those especially vicious crimes and escalating ones in your country.
What have you been doing about decreasing crimes in your country? You cannot try to clean up areas out of your country when the other area n your country needs cleaning up.
Brrrrrr. Donkey
Brrrrrr. Donkey and horse.
That sounds good in theory!!! The practicality is left to be seen! If the leverage is coming from a Trinidad source, let us hope Mr. Maharaj and his agencies will also lend support in theory and action to the cause the United Workers Party is now pursuing to guarantee “free and fair” elections. The root of the corruption stems from that base. One thing I am sure about, those already corrupt governments will “demonstrate that they are ready to make a stand and stamp out this injustice.” But in reality they will have to be sanctioned to get some real results!!! I hope the Heads of Integrity Commissions and Anti-corruption Bodies in Commonwealth Caribbean are willing to go that far. Good Luck Mr. Maharaj.
Well said. Would Mr. Maharaj now pass the baton and the morale message to the in coming Baroness Scotland, with no strings attached like the souce sell story. It has to be real.
Sir, please come Dominica and lecture this corrupt goverment
If you all want to see corruption, and corrupt leaders put the radar on Dominica…It is weaker than all the other OECS countries,because greedy and corrupt men/women have grabbed everything…Meanwhile the country lacks basic medical care,a proper airport,criminal activities are frighteningly high,state institutions are immasculated,unemployment is at a super high rate…Personly I believe corrupt leaders are hardened criminals,who should spend their worldy time behind bars!!
Good Luck!
Lets be serious, the corruption is pandemic in the Caribbean and there are no any serious indicators that its going to change any time soon: http://blog.transparency.org/2016/01/27/the-americas-how-2015-was-a-warning-to-the-corrupt/
Mr Maharaj knows for sure that Caribbean politicians and public officials fight against corruption in same fashion as bees fight against honey…
Has De Baroness Scotland read this……..sucre cell eh……
Is she fit to hold such a prestigious position ?
Thanks sir, please come to Dominica to talk and counsel our government, the Prime Minister , his cabal cabinet and his blind loyalist.
On your arrival yo may not see PM, as he may be asleep somewhere on a transatlantic, pacific flight looking for citizens.
Please sir, help us, help Dominica….its an SOS
That will be the day when the (I will not even venture to say eliminate) reduce corruption in the Caribbean.
They are all a bunch of corrupt politicians.
When they are in opposition, they holler and scream about corruption. As soon as they form the government, they do the same thing.
Roosie under DLP accused UWP of corruption. What do we have now?
Linton cannot afford to pay his legal bills. Does one really think he will spend 5 years as PM and still remain poor? Fat chance.
A true Zandoli climbing the tree and forget it has its long tail of tales hanging behind it. YOu have really demonstrated your ignorance as to the reality of politics. YOu are being very personal, it will not work.
Go ask Skerrit and his cabal who discovered the bin bobol fiasco, corruption and after denial climbing the same Zandoli tree they gave with intervention of Senior counsel. It was te same Hon Lennox Linton.
To say and think otherwise you have aligned yourself to the continuation of corruption in goverment