The latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International (TI) has shown that this country continues to be perceived as more corrupt despite claims by Prime Minister Patrick Manning that his government is being seen as one of anti-corruption.
This was stated by Petra Bridgemohan, a director of the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (TTTI), at a press conference held at Bretton Hall, Victoria Avenue, Port of Spain, yesterday.
And regarding the incident concerning Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley which has been referred to the Integrity Commission by the Prime Minister, Bridgemohan said it was probably going to be a test case of the Integrity in Public Life (2000) Act.
During the Budget debate, Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh produced documents alleging that materials, equipment and resources from the publicly funded Scarborough Hospital project were being siphoned to a private development in which Rowley had an interest at Mason Hall in Tobago. Manning had initially said there would be a independent public investigation and the findings would be made public. In a statement in the House on Tuesday he had announced that principal of the Hugh Wooding Law School and retired justice Annestine Sealey would be appointed to a one-person commission of enquiry to investigate the matter, but a few hours later, while winding up the debate, Manning said the matter would now be referred to the Integrity Commission.
Referring to this matter, Bridgemohan said, "We are paying very close attention to it and if we could send one word to the Prime Minister and his government it is that please let this be the demonstration that the political will to deal with corruption is there."
Also speaking was another TTTI director, Johanna Koorn, who said that once a government minister had an interest in a private company, he should resign from the company. She said issues such as conflict of interest were clear in the Integrity in Public Life (2000) Act and urged all politicians to take a full look at it.
Citing the 2004 CPI, Bridgemohan said once again T&T was being perceived as more corrupt with a rating of 4.2, a drop from 4.6 in 2003.
Bridgemohan said since the appearance of the CPI in 2001 T&T has consistently dropped from 5.3 to 4.9 in 2002.
She said the TI report stated that corruption was rampant in 60 countries with the public sector being plagued with bribery. It stated that "most oil producing nations are prone to high levels of corruption".
Out of the survey of 146 countries, T&T placed 53rd which was down from 43rd in 2003.
TI is also urging western governments to oblige their oil companies to publish what they receive in fees and other royalties from the host governments and state oil companies.
The report stated that a low CPI rating would affect a country's ability to access funds from international agencies but Koorn added that although T&T, because of its GDP, was not eligible for funding, a low index could affect T&T's ability to access loans.
Bridgemohan said based on the data from the sources used for 2003 and 2004, T&T is being seen as more corrupt.
She said, "We therefore suggest to the Government that based on these international, independent reports, the government's anti-corruption systems are not being perceived as effective."
