Private Sector urged to join forces with Govt in anti-corruption drive

…as Governance Minister pushes collaboration for integrity, stronger oversight

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira on Tuesday urged stronger collaboration between Government and business as part of Guyana’s ongoing fight against corruption. She made this call during the Anti-Corruption Roundtable Discussion held under the theme “Partnering to Build Resilient Public and Private Institutions in Guyana’s Fight Against Corruption” at the Pegasus Suites.

The one-day forum was convened by Government officials and senior representatives from over 30 private-sector organisations to further ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing integrity frameworks and strengthening resilience across both sectors. The discussions centred on several key themes, including ethical auditing practices within private enterprises, the promotion of integrity standards, capacity building to prevent and address corruption, and the exploration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a transformative tool to enhance transparency in both public and private institutions. The discussions also examined the progress achieved in implementing recommendations stemming from the periodic reviews of the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (IACAC) and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Teixeira told the gathering that both sectors have important, complementary roles. “The private sector has their own interest in terms of their reputations, their ability to invest, their ability to make profit.” She said the partnership must be one of equals and stressed the importance of private-sector ethical standards. “We want to keep building on that collaboration of partnership, of equals, of the two bodies who have a very important role to play.” The Minister pointed to constitutional and legislative reforms as central to Guyana’s progress in accountability and procurement practices. “The Auditor General no longer had to report to the Minister of Finance; he tabled his report to the Speaker, the Speaker laid it in the National Assembly, it would go to the Public Accounts Committee, the Public Accounts Committee would then bring their recommendations out.”

Legislative reform
On legislative reform she said, “Our Audit Act of 2004, our Procurement Act 2003 were radical.” Teixeira also highlighted measurable improvements shown in oversight reports. “When it talks about that it’s had 80 per cent of the recommendations being complied with, that’s a major achievement in two years.” She pointed to progress on recovering public funds: “We’re very happy that full recovery of overpayments for three consecutive years, 2022, 23, and 24, was achieved, and that is setting a new benchmark for accountability.” Digitisation of services featured as a key anti-corruption measure, with Teixeira referencing the new single-window platform and the broader benefits of streamlined access.
“…including one of the important anti-corruption platforms that has been created, and the President spoke about it yesterday, the single window platform. Extraordinarily important because we know from different, sometimes anecdotal, sometimes actual, real experience of where the risks are for corruption, bribery, etc.” She tied improved access and reduced delays directly to corruption prevention. “So, the access to the services for the public, equitable access, easy access, reduction of long delays is a critical part of reducing and preventing corruption in the Government circles.” Teixeira urged the press to use official oversight reports as the foundation for investigative work. “I call on the media to do good investigative journalism. Good, solid investigative journalism, which means you go to the reports of these bodies.” She also pointed to new revenue streams and environmental stewardship as part of Guyana’s broader resilience.
“We trade, and we’re looking to have more carbon credit trading because the revenue from our forests and the fact that we’ve not deforested and that we’re a zero-emitting country makes us very attractive for those kinds of investments in carbon trading.” The Minister stressed continued resourcing of institutions – especially staffing and training – as essential to sustaining gains. “So when we look at Guyana, where we’ve come from and where we are, we have to in all fairness say we have made enormous strides as a country.” Teixeira closed by underscoring the need for vigilance and partnership. “Democracy mustn’t be taken for granted. We have to keep the momentum up, and we have to keep including more, participating with more, and strengthening.