By Sue-Ann Wayow
TRINIDAD and Tobago seems to be less corrupt in the public service than it was last year according to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
It has moved from a score of 40 in 2020 to 41 in 2021.
Leading in the Caribbean in the CPI is Barbados with a score of 65. Globally, Denmark and Sweden have tied for the top spot with 88 (least corrupt) and Somalia, Syria and South Sudan have scored the lowest with 13 (most corrupt).
The report was launched on Tuesday.
Speaking at the launch, Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (TTTI) Chairman Dion Abdool said, “The important point to note is although there is a one-point move for Trinidad and Tobago, more needs to be done.”
In 2016, Trinidad and Tobago achieved a score of 35 and since then, the country has been scoring between 40 and 41.
“We seem to be plateauing and we need to take decisive action to get past the pass mark of 50 or higher. You need 50 marks to pass an exam and we haven’t reached there yet,” Abdool said.
For major improvement to occur, certain legislation that has been on the table for years must be implemented.
Abdool said, “To move from where we are, we need the immediate operationalisation and implementation of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act. We need it like yesterday. We also call for Whistle Blower legislation, Campaign Finance Legislation and an Open Government Partnership.”
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi gave an update on both the Public Procurement and Campaign Finance legislations.
He said, “We have just done the 12 regulations to make that (Public Procurement legislation) come to life, that is only as good as Campaign Finance Reform which is completed in terms of a bill laid in the Parliament, referred to a Joint Select Committee (JSC) and will be completed with a passage of special majority considerations.”
If the Judiciary deals more swiftly in delivering judgements, that will be one of the key factors that can send this country’s score to the eighties believes Al-Rawi as thousands of police matters remain before the courts.
“And I am very pleased to say that the Backlog Management Committee chaired by the Chief Justice will be making an announcement soon as we go into revealing the preparedness for trials in specialist courts,” he added.
This country’s 2021 score was based on data from 2020.
This means that the work of the Financial Intelligence Bureau in 2021 will only be reflected in the next annual report, Abdool said.
Trinidad and Tobago’s CPI was the result of seven data sources, each with a list of questions for the public.
One of the questions the public was asked was, “Do you think bribery and corruption exist in the Public Sector?”
Another was, “Do you think the Government does enough to contain corruption in the Public Service?”
