T&T has been perceived as being slightly less corrupt in 2015 than it was in 2014 and 2013, increasing its score in the 2015 Transparency International’s (TI) corruption Perception Index (CPI) from 38 to 39 points.
It also improved ranking in the 2015 TI report, moving from number 85 in 2014 to number 72 for 2015. The 2015 listings were released at the T&T Chamber yesterday by TI’s local chapter, T&T Transparency Institute (T&TTI). The CPI is based on expert opinions of public sector corruption.
A statement from T&TTI stated that though corruption was still rife globally, more countries improved their scores in the 2015 index than declined.
Overall, two-thirds of the 168 countries on the 2015 index scored below 50, on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean). Denmark took the top spot for the second year running, with North Korea and Somalia the worst performers, scoring just eight points each.
The global body stated that this year T&T improved one place, with a score of 39 out of 100. T&T had scored 38 in 2013 and 2014. Jamaica, however, moved from less points than T&T to equal scoring in the last two years and has now improved to a score of 41 out of 100,two points ahead of T&T. Jamaica’s CPI ranking is now number 69.
T&T also jumped 13 spots up the CPI rankings, from number 85 in 2014 to number 72 in 2015. This is out of a total of 167 countries globally. In 2013, T&T ranked 83.
T&T ranked higher for 2015 than Brazil which came in at number 76, India (number 76) and China (83). Also in the 2015 ratings, T&T tied with Panama, Mongolia and El Salvador. Among scores, T&T topped Guyana and Venezuela which received 29 and 17 points respectively, declining in scores from the previous year.
Scores were unavailable for several Caribbean states, including St Vincent, the Bahamas and Barbados, which previously ranked highest regionally. T&TTI stated there should be no excitement about T&T’s score moving up by one point since it didn’t mean the country had become significantly less corrupt in the last year. It added: “The CPI measures the perceived level of corruption. Therefore, any change in score might reflect some change in the perceptions of the business people and experts whose views make up the Index.
“Also, the CPI is an Index which provides a score for each country based on up to 12 different data sources. The scores from each data source can vary, such that there is also a degree of statistical uncertainty associated with the final CPI score.
“ As a result, CPI reports not only the aggregate score, but also the standard error associated with the variation on the different data sources, and also the equivalent 90% confidence interval,” T&TTI stated. “What all that means is that there will always be some variation in CPI scores... we consider any change in CPI score of +/-4 or more and a majority of the data sources indicating a change in the same direction to represent a change in the perceived level of corruption in that country.”
TTTI director Lorraine Rostant agreed with speakers at yesterday’s presentation—Afra Raymond, TTTI vice chairman Dion Abdool—that if T&T implemented its planned procurement legislation that would eliminate 60 per cent of corruption .
The procurement legislation brought by the past PP administration was passed in Parliament.
The new PNM Government placed it before a Parliamentary Joint Select Committee which will report back on this in two months. The local chapter of TI, the T&T Transparency Institute, will discuss the issues specific to T&T in greater depth at the annual Anti-Corruption Conference on March 8 at the Hilton Trinidad.
International and local experts will speak on the theme: “Unmask the Corrupt! Governance, Integrity, People.”
T&TTI stated that globally, big CPI decliners in the past four years include Libya, Australia, Brazil, Spain and Turkey. Big improvers include Greece, Senegal and UK. The UK and US hold 10th and 16th positions in rankings.
According to T&TI, improved perception of Jamaica for 2015 was due to new developments, including laws for registration of political parties, an Integrity Commission Bill providing for a special prosecutor for corruption and establishment of independent major organised crime and anti-corruption agency, targeting high level corruption in public and private sectors.
Increased charges, arrest and removal of various public officials were also noted.
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On the TI 2015 report, Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis said: “ We have gone up by one point as I understand it and we are moving in the right direction. A lot has to do with certain factors, such as the parliamentary transparency committees (JSCs) that examine things,including the assurances and openess of the Government and the fact they are populated by the new Government. That’s a positive move and it’s a different approach from before.”
Robinson-Regis said the improved perception may also have to do with election of the new government which has a totally different policy from the previous administration, “so we are moving in the right direction. We are open with the population and will continue to as it relates to transparency in the Government and government processes.
“We are talking openly about what we found since entering government. One public servant has been suspended from the Attorney General’s office and others are being examined... and I’m sure the next (TI) report will be better,” she added.
Opposition PP officials said they would comment soon.