By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon has rejected the recent findings and dissemination of information by Transparency International on corruption and transparency in Guyana.
Guyana scored 27 out of 100 on the Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index – which rank countries based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be – for 2013, dropping a point from the 28 it gained last year.
Dr. Luncheon told reporters on Wednesday (December 4) that the body has once again demonstrated how charitable it is to the Guyana Government.
He added that TI has failed to recognize the efforts that the Administration has been making over time in addressing issues of transparency and accountability.
“They have fallen prey to the wickedness that some members of the media perpetuate in making these unqualified statements about Government and corruption and lack of accountability,” Dr. Luncheon stated.
When asked about whether the findings in the Index can reduce assistance given to Guyana by other countries, Dr. Luncheon responded “Were we to accept and not respond to findings that would be possible.”
The Government’s Spokesman said the Administration will not sit around like ‘toothless poodles’ and not challenge TI’s conclusions.
The Guyana Government have over the years challenged reports which pronounced on high levels of corruption and lack of transparency here, deeming them to be largely inaccurate and not a true reflection of the Guyana situation.
On the other hand, opposition elements continue to insist that corruption does exist on a large scale in Guyana.
According to TI, the ranking this year offers a warning that the abuse of power, secret dealings and bribery continue to ravage societies around the world.
More than two thirds of the 177 countries in the 2013 index scored below 50, on a scale from zero (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean).
“The Corruption Perceptions Index 2013 demonstrates that all countries still face the threat of corruption at all levels of government, from the issuing of local permits to the enforcement of laws and regulations,” said TI Chair Huguette Labelle.
The Corruption Perceptions Index is based on experts’ opinions of public sector corruption. Countries’ scores can be helped by strong access to information systems and rules governing the behaviour of those in public positions, while a lack of accountability across the public sector coupled with ineffective public institutions hurt these perceptions.
