Enrico Woolford
The 2024 Corruption Perception Index is out, and Guyana has been flagged for misappropriation of resources and increased attacks on dissenting voices.
The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) which is produced by Transparency International is the most widely used global corruption ranking. It measures how corrupt each country’s public sector is perceived to be based on data collected from experts and business people through surveys.
According to the CPI Guyana has a score of 39 out of a 100 but a ranking of 92. 180 countries are assessed.
The survey considers several manifestations of public sector corruption: bribery; diversion of public funds; officials using public office for private gain without facing consequences; ability of governments to contain corruption in the public sector; nepotistic appointments in the civil service; access to information on public affairs/governance activities; laws ensuring that public sector officials must disclose their finances and potential conflicts of interests and excessive red tape in the public sector which may increase opportunities for corruption.
Guyana was mentioned under the heading shrinking civic space and restricted access to information alongside Argentina and El Salvador.
According to Transparency International, Guyana – state capture by economic and political elites, fosters misappropriation of resources, illicit enrichment, and environment crimes. The international body went onto say that while Guyana has created anti-corruption institutions and laws, transparency and law enforcement are very low and attacks on dissenting voices, activists and journalists are increasingly common.