This Anti-Corruption Helpdesk brief was produced in response to a query from one of Transparency International’s national chapters. The Anti-Corruption Helpdesk is operated by Transparency International and funded by the European Union.
Query
Please give an overview of the costs of corruption on gender equality, youth development, environmental and security issues in the English-speaking Caribbean countries
Summary
Corruption remains a major challenge in Commonwealth Caribbean countries, as shown by governance indicators such as the Corruption Perceptions Index. Evidence in the latest Global Corruption Barometer for Latin America and the Caribbean has also indicated the deleterious impact of corruption on Caribbean women who are the main targets of bribery when seeking public services and are subjected to gendered forms of corruption, such as sextortion. Corruption has also grossly affected the youth and compromised state security due to its proximate link with organised crime in the region.
Caveat: There is little information on the true financial, quantitative costs of corruption on gender, youth, environment and security issues in the Caribbean region. In general, there is a scarcity of recent corruption research in the region. There is a need for more resources to be made available with a focus on anti-corruption in the region.
Contents
- Extent of Corruption
- Costs of Corruption
a. Corruption and gender equality
b. Corruption and youth development
c. Corruption and environment
d. Corruption and security issues
3. References
Main points
- According to the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index, Bahamas is the least corrupt Commonwealth Caribbean country, with a score of 64 out of 100. The most corrupt countries from the group are Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago, with a joint score of 40 which is below the world average of 43.
- The latest Global Corruption Barometer for Latin America and the Caribbean indicates that Barbados has the highest percentage (30 per cent) of citizens who experienced sextortion or know someone who has. This is followed by Guyana (22 per cent), Trinidad and Tobago (19 per cent), and Jamaica (18 per cent).
- According to a study in Jamaica, 74 per cent of the youth respondents perceived corruption as harmful to their section of the youth population.
- Corruption and organised crime are mutually reinforcing in the region, which compromises state security and weakens public confidence in security forces
Authors
Jorum Duri, [email protected]
Reviewer
Matthew Jenkins, Transparency International
Date
18/11/2020
