Global activists highlight regional corruption

| 24/09/2019 | 15 Comments
Cayman News Service

(CNS): More than half of all citizens in Latin American and Caribbean countries assessed by Transparency International believe corruption is getting worse in their country. In the latest report from the anti-corruption activists, people in this region think their governments are not doing enough to tackle corruption. Global Corruption Barometer–Latin America and the Caribbean found that corruption is a major concern for ordinary people, when 85% of those surveyed said it was “a big problem”.

One in four people also said that they have been offered bribes in exchange for votes at national, regional or local elections in the past five years. More than 65% of people in this region think their government is run by and for a few private interests. Meanwhile, around 56 million citizens in this region are believed to have experienced bribery when accessing public services.

The report documents for the first time that one in five people in the region experiences sexual extortion when accessing a government service, such as health care or education, or know someone who has. It found that 71% of people think that ‘sextortion’ happens at least occasionally.

In a press release about the report, Transparency International said presidents, prime ministers and members of parliament are regarded as the most corrupt groups by around 53% of those surveyed.

“Too often, presidents, parliamentarians and other political leaders act in their own self-interest at the expense of the citizens they serve,” said Delia Ferreira Rubio, Chair of Transparency International. “In a region where anti-corruption efforts are building momentum despite recent setbacks, citizens continue to demand more and better from their governments.” 

Despite the challenges, TI said that an overwhelming majority of people remain hopeful about tackling corruption. More than three-quarters of those who took part in the survey said ordinary citizens can make a difference in the fight against corruption.   

“Citizens have the right to report corruption and expect that politicians act with integrity,” said Patricia Moreira, Managing Director of Transparency International. “Corruption eats away at society and undermines institutions. Political leaders need to listen to the clear demands of citizens to tackle corruption and strengthen democracy.”


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Category: Caribbean, Latin America, World News

Comments (15)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Sodom and Gomorrah Country.
    Attracts functioning addicts, with easy access to illegal drugs.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Dear FCO/CFATF: $25mln in cocaine and marijuana, weighing several hundred pounds, walked silently out of a secured CCTV evidence locker within a staffed, barbed wire fenced, police compound, and no attending staffed crime fighters saw anything, and Security Centre CCTV wasn’t working…the only people that knew it was there were Cabinet, Senior police Exec, and the governor. There doesn’t appear to have been any public inquiry spawned or investigation of any kind, and nobody fired. Explain that?!

  3. Anonymous says:

    David Legge was correct, the Cayman Islands IS corrupt to the core.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Spoke with a tourist yesterday who had vacationed in Cayman for a week. Said that they loved the island but that it is too expensive. Then they asked if I thought that the politicians here are corrupt because everywhere they visited they had met nice locals who were complaining how corrupt some politicians are. I tried to explain that every country has corrupt politicians and that Cayman is just another verdant isle where anything grows.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    A lot of corruption is just the way we do business. Don’t know any different.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Many do and say nothing, which is worse. Widespread complicity is what really wrecks this place.

  6. Anonymous says:

    And we have yet to see any positive change here as our Standards in Public Life Law languishes and collects more dust.

    Most of our MLAs would not be in the business of politics if this law was passed. This will pass only when it is forced by either the Governor or FCO directly. Until then we just live within the illusion of democracy.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Clearly that’s not their bread-winning occupation. You don’t get $250k/week lines of credit at the casino on civil service salary…and private jet privileges…even when double dipping. For all the mute accountants on island it still doesn’t add up.

  7. Anon says:

    It is evident that Cayman is just one of many in the region that scores highly in all these failings.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    It’s pitiful to assist our neighbours only when there is a time of natural disaster. We must bind forces to aid them against corruption and disaster of all levels. It is integral that we seek outside assistance as locals risk their jobs, status, and even lives attempting to expose corruption.

    • Anonymous says:

      We really can’t throw stones when it comes to corruption. Our “leaders” still haven’t enacted SIPL which is supposed to be supervised by the Commission established under §117 of our Constitution. Enacting SIPL is a fundamental Constitutional requirement we have failed to do ourselves, and the Unity continues to gas-light everyone (including Governor/FCO) into thinking it’s not.

  9. Anonymous says:

    When there are leaders that have taken extra deliberation to water-down the Constitutionally prescribed “Standards in Public Life Law”, and then continuously fail to set a date for enactment, it often coincides with a serious underlying corruption problem.

    Similarly: when loosing parties, team up from their losses to form a procedure-stuffing coalition, it doesn’t look great for democracy.

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