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| The legal framework that addresses and penalizes corruption in Guyana includes the Integrity Commission Act, State Assets Recovery Act, and the Audit Act.<ref name=standard>Guyana Standard. (2024). “Guyana lacks significant compliance programs to detect bribery of government officials, says US State Department”. Guyana Standard. https://www.guyanastandard.com/2024/07/22/guyana-lacks-significant-compliance-programs-to-detect-bribery-of-government-officials-says-us-state-department/</ref> Observers see a need to introduce more reforms such as the establishment of an agency that can investigate and prosecute corrupt practices, the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, and the passage of key corruption legislation, among others.<ref>Ramkarran, Ralph. (2016). “Tackling corruption in Guyana”. Conversation Tree. https://www.conversationtree.gy/tackling-corruption-in-guyana/</ref> The Integrity Commission Act, for instance, was only reconstituted in 2022. While it can collect asset declarations from public officials, its mandate is limited to reporting irregularities for other authorities to investigate.<ref name=standard/> | The legal framework that addresses and penalizes corruption in Guyana includes the Integrity Commission Act, State Assets Recovery Act, and the Audit Act.<ref name=standard>Guyana Standard. (2024). “Guyana lacks significant compliance programs to detect bribery of government officials, says US State Department”. Guyana Standard. https://www.guyanastandard.com/2024/07/22/guyana-lacks-significant-compliance-programs-to-detect-bribery-of-government-officials-says-us-state-department/</ref> Observers see a need to introduce more reforms such as the establishment of an agency that can investigate and prosecute corrupt practices, the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, and the passage of key corruption legislation, among others.<ref>Ramkarran, Ralph. (2016). “Tackling corruption in Guyana”. Conversation Tree. https://www.conversationtree.gy/tackling-corruption-in-guyana/</ref> The Integrity Commission Act, for instance, was only reconstituted in 2022. While it can collect asset declarations from public officials, its mandate is limited to reporting irregularities for other authorities to investigate.<ref name=standard/> | ||
| Recently, Guyana has instituted more measures to address corruption. The National Tender & Procurement Administration, for instance, has already established guidelines for public procurement procedures.<ref> “Preventing corruption in public procurement requires a comprehensive approach.” Kaieteur News. https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/07/06/preventing-corruption-in-public-procurement-requires-a-comprehensive-approach/.</ref> | Recently, Guyana has instituted more measures to address corruption. The National Tender & Procurement Administration, for instance, has already established guidelines for public procurement procedures.<ref> “Preventing corruption in public procurement requires a comprehensive approach.” Kaieteur News. https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/07/06/preventing-corruption-in-public-procurement-requires-a-comprehensive-approach/.</ref> In 2021, the National Coordinating Committee on Anti-Corruption was also established. This body monitors and facilitates Guyana’s commitments to regional and international anti-corruption treaties, conventions, and agreements. Guyana Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has also thrown his support behind the proposal to require a prequalifying exam for contractors to prevent corrupt practices.<ref>MPAG. (2024). National Coordinating Committee on Anti-Corruption. MPAG. https://mpag.gov.gy/national-coordinating-committee-on-anti-corruption/</ref> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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Corruption in Guyana remains a significant concern for the republic, requiring ongoing efforts to combat the problem. The country’s 2023 ranking in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index was 87th place and its rating, which stands at 40 out of 100, saw a decline since 2020. Persistent corruption issues include bribery, embezzlement, and misappropriation of public funds.
Corruption issues
Police Force
According to Robeson Benn, the Minister of Home Affairs, the procurement process in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been a source of corruption and remains the biggest immediate problem within the organization. Recent reports demonstrated that high-profile officers were implicated in allegations of corruption such as Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus. He has been investigated for alleged financial improprieties and has been on leave since July 2024. Charges of corruption within the police force has already attracted the attention of NGOs such as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the United States Embassy in Guyana. Benn also cited similar corruption challenges in the cases of Guyana Fire Service and Guyana Prison Service.
Corruption in the oil industry
A problematic area that creates incidences of corruption in Guyana is petroleum licensing and contracting transactions. In 2015, the discovery of vast oil reserves off the coast of the country provided significant potential to Guyana’s economic development. Presently, oil has already generated $1 billion in annual revenue and this figure is estimated to reach $7.5 billion by 2040. The influx of wealth, however, also created opportunities for corruption. This is demonstrated in the case of ExxonMobil.
ExxonMobil holds a license to extract oil resources in Guyana. However, as is the case in its global operations, it often outsources the bulk of the work from contractors to get natural resources out of the ground. According to the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), this practice creates corruption risks in the operations of these suppliers such as bribery, favoritism, and state capture. This is highlighted by reports that suppliers, which have been contracted in Guyana, such as Saipem, Halliburton, and SBM Offshore have been involved in corrupt practices in their respective operations elsewhere in order to gain advantages.
The state-owned Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) was also cited in a report by the Auditor General in 2021 for alleged impropriety lodged by Jayson Aaron and his company, Aaron Royality Inc. Although the report did not cite any laws broken over a claimed assurance of a contract, it noted that the company’s officials violated standards and procedures for procuring fuel and recommended disciplinary actions.
Anti-corruption measures
The legal framework that addresses and penalizes corruption in Guyana includes the Integrity Commission Act, State Assets Recovery Act, and the Audit Act. Observers see a need to introduce more reforms such as the establishment of an agency that can investigate and prosecute corrupt practices, the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, and the passage of key corruption legislation, among others. The Integrity Commission Act, for instance, was only reconstituted in 2022. While it can collect asset declarations from public officials, its mandate is limited to reporting irregularities for other authorities to investigate.
Recently, Guyana has instituted more measures to address corruption. The National Tender & Procurement Administration, for instance, has already established guidelines for public procurement procedures. In 2021, the National Coordinating Committee on Anti-Corruption was also established. This body monitors and facilitates Guyana’s commitments to regional and international anti-corruption treaties, conventions, and agreements. Guyana Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has also thrown his support behind the proposal to require a prequalifying exam for contractors to prevent corrupt practices.
References
- Transparency International. (2024). Guyana. Transparency International. https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/guyana.
- Chabrol, Denis. (2024). “Corrupt procurement is biggest immediate problem in police force – Home Affairs Minister”. Demerara News. https://demerarawaves.com/2024/07/16/corrupt-procurement-is-biggest-immediate-problem-in-police-force-home-affairs-minister/
- Chabrol, Denis. (2024). “Jagdeo says corruption allegations against police officer will be released in High Court”. Demerara Waves. https://demerarawaves.com/2024/10/17/jagdeo-says-corruption-allegations-against-police-officer-will-be-released-in-high-court/#google_vignette
- Chabrol, Denis. (2024). “US paying attention to corruption allegations in police force”. Demerara News. https://demerarawaves.com/2024/10/19/us-paying-attention-to-corruption-allegations-in-police-force/#google_vignette
- Mao, William. (2023). “A Path to Prosperity for Oil-Rich Guyana”. Harvard International Review. https://hir.harvard.edu/a-path-to-prosperity-for-oil-rich-guyana/
- ^ Kaieteur News. (2022). “Exxon contractors linked to biggest corruption scandals in oil industry. Kaieteur News. https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2022/04/01/exxon-contractors-linked-to-biggest-corruption-scandals-in-oil-industry/
- Stabroek News. (2021). “Auditor General recommends criminal probe of Guyoil fuel controversy”. Stabroek News. https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/06/13/news/guyana/auditor-general-recommends-criminal-probe-of-guyoil-fuel-controversy/
- ^ Guyana Standard. (2024). “Guyana lacks significant compliance programs to detect bribery of government officials, says US State Department”. Guyana Standard. https://www.guyanastandard.com/2024/07/22/guyana-lacks-significant-compliance-programs-to-detect-bribery-of-government-officials-says-us-state-department/
- Ramkarran, Ralph. (2016). “Tackling corruption in Guyana”. Conversation Tree. https://www.conversationtree.gy/tackling-corruption-in-guyana/
- “Preventing corruption in public procurement requires a comprehensive approach.” Kaieteur News. https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/07/06/preventing-corruption-in-public-procurement-requires-a-comprehensive-approach/.
- MPAG. (2024). National Coordinating Committee on Anti-Corruption. MPAG. https://mpag.gov.gy/national-coordinating-committee-on-anti-corruption/
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