Political ‘guidebook’ focusing on corruption and integrity launched

A political handbook has recently been published in anticipation of a flood of general elections in the Caribbean region over the next few years. Interestingly, the book focuses on political and governance issues in the Caribbean, with special emphasis on corruption.
This piece of political literature, written by Cynthia Barrow-Giles, a lecturer at the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill campus, is titled ‘The National Integrity System and Governance in the Commonwealth Caribbean.’
The manuscript examines the concept of the National Integrity System (NIS) which was developed by Transparency International, and covers some of the major issues of Integrity in Governance. It then applies these ideas to an analysis and understanding of the function of National Integrity Systems (NIS) in the Commonwealth Caribbean. By doing this, the book discusses regional and global best practices and the deficiencies in integrity systems.
The book not only addresses government institutions, but the private sector, political parties, the media, and civil society as critical parties in poorly functioning national integrity and corruption systems.
Barrow-Giles’s Political Science colleague, Head of the Department of Government, Sociology and Social Work at UWI, Dr. Tenyson Joseph, praised the publication, and noted that it has made an important contribution to political science, public policy, governance, and constitutional development.
“Barrow-Giles closes in on a number of institutional and political-cultural features and systems which need to be addressed in resolving the persistent and widespread features of corruption in Caribbean public life,” Dr Joseph stated.
“Barrow-Giles not only highlights the existing challenges of corruption, but in doing so, provides useful alternatives for strengthening existing systems. This makes the book more than an academic study, but equally qualifies it as a guidebook for practitioners”, he elaborated.
He further explained that the book will be of great value to constitutional and legal reform, development agencies, students of Caribbean politics, civil society agencies interested in government, and citizens as a whole.