CORRUPTION IN POLITICS CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS

Like most countries in the Caribbean, Saint Lucia has suffered more than its fair share of political scandals, from opposition allegations of the government’s misuse of Taiwanese funds to the controversial leasing of acres of the island’s seabed to a notorious American oil speculator — a matter currently pending before the ICSID at great cost to local taxpayers.  It is worth underscoring that, despite countless allegations, no local official has appeared before a judge and jury on charges of corruption.  

Corruption in the Caribbean does not occur only at the political level. The judiciary, the police, regional and national institutions . . . the shadow cast by corruption is long and pervasive. Its true cost is hard to pin down, for at least two reasons: it’s a catch-all word that includes instances of commonplace bribery, all the way up to money laundering; then there is the impact, direct and indirect, not just on the economy, but also on the society
at large.

Right-thinking citizens have little tolerance for corrupt governments. In the Caribbean, perceived corruption is at a much higher level than proven examples. Trust in institutions is notoriously low, thanks to a lack of transparency and accountability. In 2017 global watchdog Transparency International surveyed over 22,000 citizens in 20 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. They found that 62 per cent believed corruption was on the rise while 53 per cent believed their government was failing to address the problem. This dissatisfaction disengages the population and makes more citizens more likely to turn to crime. If their leaders are indisciplined, with a demonstrated lack of respect for law and order, chances are the society will reflect such behaviour.  

A corrupt country is also a country where growth has increasingly slowed. Money falling through the cracks is money taken from infrastructure, education, health facilities and other resources vital to building a thriving nation. And corruption cuts off further avenues to economic prosperity by dampening foreign investment. According to a 2011 survey from KPMG, 35 per cent of companies had been deterred from an otherwise attractive investment because of the host country’s reputation for corruption. Investors value profit, but they also value security, safety and trust.

Taking action

Leaders from the Caribbean Commonwealth’s anti-corruption agencies met in Grand Cayman in June to discuss how to move forward in the region by strengthening institutions to weed out corrupt practices. Priority areas outlined by the agencies included capacity-building, resource management, knowledge sharing, code of conduct and law enforcement.

National strategies must work in tandem with regional efforts. To help countries get on the same page, and follow the same standard operating procedures, the Commonwealth has established regional networks to share information and best practices, and close any cross-border loopholes.

In addition, the Commonwealth has created a set of 22 anti-corruption benchmarks. These cover areas such as sanctions for corruption offences, investigating and prosecuting authorities, political lobbying and disclosure of asset ownership. Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland explained: “Each benchmark is defined by a principle and contains detailed guidance for meeting the set level of achievement. The principles and guidance are consistent with international standards and, if adopted, would go further in covering other areas of concern not previously addressed. We are strongest when we combine our efforts.”

Charting progress

Caribbean anti-corruption agencies will come together again next year, this time in Saint Lucia. Stakeholders are hoping that by then visible and measurable progress will have been made. In the meantime, Saint Lucia has been taking its own steps to combat corruption.

Last year Prime Minister Allen Chastanet addressed the Eighth Summit of the Americas in Lima, Peru and shared measures undertaken by his government to fight back. These include requiring ministers, permanent secretaries and board members of statutory agencies to pass governance courses, amending the Crown Proceedings Act to enable recovery of public funds without a statute of limitation, and signing onto the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption.

The prime minister acknowledged the issue of dwindling public trust: “We must value our democracies which are inherently based on one-citizen, one-vote, thereby entitling each and every person the expectation that government will manage the public good, and provide essential services to secure their present and future. The people must trust their elected representatives to be transparent and accountable to them as citizens.”

But in speaking of the issue of corruption among small island developing states (SIDS), the prime minister went on the attack, suggesting that international bodies placed too onerous a burden on smaller countries, effectively burying them in bureaucracy. “Despite best efforts,” he said, “SIDS are at times being unfairly singled out by countries and institutions that try to impose rules and regulations that were themselves derived from a non-transparent process. Impractical and subjective mechanisms are unsustainable.”

But Saint Lucia doesn’t have to look to the western world for guidance on how to tackle corruption. Caribbean countries are already forging ahead to provide an example for the rest of the region. Grenada’s Integrity Commission has won praise regionally and internationally for its work and the country now has over 30 pieces of anti-corruption legislation which encompass tougher detection and enforcement processes.

The Saint Lucian government has indicated a willingness to follow the Grenada model, with National Security Minister Hermangild Francis saying: “It is important we look at what Grenada has done to stem corruption within the offices of government and private enterprises.” He spoke particularly of the Ombudsman’s office in Grenada, and acknowledged that the Saint Lucian Parliamentary Commissioner should be given more assistance and leeway to investigate cases.

With Grenada leading the way, a new regional action plan and an upcoming framework of Commonwealth anti-corruption benchmarks, it is hoped that Saint Lucia will take a new look at why corruption efforts in the country have proved wholly inadequate and how upgrading those efforts can benefit its citizens, its economy and its reputation around the world.