Govt intensifies efforts to stamp out corruption among high-ranking officials

In a bid to curb the level of corruption in Guyana, the Government through the Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Ministry is actively enhancing ethical conduct among high-ranking officials to curb corruption in the public sector.
On Tuesday, a roundtable discussion on the matter was convened at the Pegasus Hotel with representative from the Public Service Commission, the Integrity Commission, Legal Affairs Ministry, Finance Ministry, Audit Office and the Public Procurement Commission.
Among the topics covered were improving ethical conduct in the public service, encouraging ethical practices in public offices, and detecting and managing corruption and unethical practices, among others.
The primary aim of the discussion was to provide a platform for the representatives from the various entities to identify ways in which the Government can strengthen existing laws and guidelines such as the Code of Conduct and the Integrity Commission Act to enforce compliance.
According to Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira, the exercise will close loopholes being used by public officials to engage in corrupt activities that hinder the development of the economy and exploit vulnerable societies.
She explained that the activity will also ensure that these individuals are well aware of what corruption entails so that they can avoid participating in such activities involuntarily.
“I don’t think there is any country in the world that has gotten rid of corruption but some countries have stronger laws and are able to control and take the matters to the court and the courts rule on them. And there’s always accusations about the small man getting caught but the big man doesn’t get caught. Those are things that are obviously in the laws and in our investigation, in the Auditor General, the Public Procurement Commission, how we do make sure that persons are facing the court,” Texiera relayed.
Teixeira added that Tuesday’s dialogue will further aid in a more comprehensive approach being implemented going forward as it relates to dealing with corrupt officials in the public sector.
“I think we need to have an elevated discussion so that we’re able to really address corruption in a progressive way that is able to reduce it, expose it when it happens, investigate it and lead to charging people if they’re guilty,” she added.
The administration’s efforts to strengthen programmes and policies aimed at curbing corruption started in 2021, just one year after it assumed office.
The first aspect of these efforts resulted in the formulation of a National Coordinating Committee on Anti- Corruption (NCC) which is mandated to build institutional and systemic inter-agency collaboration in the anti-corruption framework of Guyana.
The NCC is chaired by the Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, while the Ministry’s Governance Unit serves as the secretariat of the body. (G1)