Latest update January 11th, 2025 4:10 AM
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Low rating on CPI not effecting Guyana’s business on int’l scene
– Edghill
Continuous low rating on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index has not hindered the way Guyana does business with international financial bodies and other countries, says Juan Edghill, Junior Finance Minister.
According to Edghill, the Transparency International Guyana Chapter is a jaundice and prejudice group comprising well known public critics of the Government of Guyana and projects being executed under this Administration.
Junior Finance Minister, Juan Edghill
“So whatever you get out is what you put in…if you have a jaundice view and prejudice position and you are the principles of the organization, your reports will produce at international level that same jaundice and prejudice position. I have seen that over the years,” he said.
Edghill said that Transparency International’s reports are basically based on who they talk to and rely on for information in Guyana.
According to Frederick Collins, Vice President, Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI), the finding on Guyana is based on surveys carried out by four reputable international institutions – the International Country Guide, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum and the Global Insight Country.
Guyana remains at the bottom of the list, ahead of only Haiti as the most corrupt in the Region.
He announced that Guyana has been ranked 136 out of 177 countries, joining Bangladesh, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Kenya with a score of 27. Guyana was ranked 133 last year.
In terms of the Americas, Guyana has been ranked 28 out of 32, while for the Caribbean, only Haiti scored lower, with 19.
But, according to Edghill, while the reports by TI are subjective, Guyana has developmental partners who engage with Government and know the reality. They utilize objective yardsticks to measure what is happening, he said.
He stressed that while Government has to face off the perception of corruption that is being established because of these negative reports that come out from this jaundice and prejudice group, it still has to provide evidence to show that Guyana is doing business in a fair, open and transparent manner.
“Twist it or turn it… when it comes to the award of contracts, procurement of goods and services, our whole tendering process having faced all the criticisms you can find in Guyana, we are still one of the most progressive regimes in the English speaking Caribbean in terms of openness and transparency,” he said.
Admitting that Government does make mistakes sometimes, Edghill said steps are being made to correct them.
“In terms of saying the country operates on a platform of corruption and lack of accountability and we are brandishing these terms around, I don’t think the bite has been effective because the proof is not in the speeches that come but is what you find on the ground,” Edghill said.
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