The Government is constantly strengthening public institutions to combat corruption, according to Minister of Governance, Gail Teixeira.

Speaking at the opening of an Anti-Corruption Roundtable event this morning, Teixeira said the fight against corruption is ongoing.

“Strengthening our public institutions is an ongoing effort to also not only relook at the structures, do they work? Are they effective? Do we have the right people in the right spot? Do they have the right qualifications? Do we need to reorganize how we administer in various ministries, statutory bodies, and constitutional bodies, to make them more effective? And do we need more training? Training is constant,” Minister Teixeira reasoned.

In the Public Service, the Minister of Governance said her Ministry has proposed that public servants undergo Governance and Anti-Corruption training as part of the broad Public Service Training Programme. The Integrity Commission, Minister Teixeira added, also plays a critical role in monitoring public officials in accordance with the Integrity Commission Act.

She said the Government is turning to technology to root out corruption, and ensure efficiency in service. The Single Window System, she pointed out, is among technologies being used to not only increase efficiency in service, but reduce the possibility of someone paying a bribe to access Government services.

“One of the important anti-corruption platforms that have been created is the Single Window Platform. Extraordinary important, because we know from different, sometimes anecdotal, sometimes from real experience of where the risks are for corruption, bribery etc, and therefore, the whole issue of land applications, and the fact that 13 agencies, from the NDCs all the way up to the Ministry of Housing have to deal with the applications, and there are specific timeframe for each stage of those applications. So, instead of an applicant having to go to 13 agencies, where there are many opportunities, and delays, and people get frustrated, and either they offer bribe,” Minister Teixeira said.

She, however, admitted that corruption in public contracts remain a challenge, and often affect the quality of infrastructure in the country.

“For every corrupt act, for example contracts, means that money that should have been used for quality buildings, quality road, is siphon off, and so we get, sometimes poorer quality buildings, roads, schools, etc, and so the issue of oversight and ensuring that we are able to reduce opportunities is important,” she said.

The Anti-Corruption Roundtable was held under the theme “Partnering to build resilient public and private institutions in Guyana’s fight against corruption,” as the Government partnered with the Private Sector to examine the progress made on the implementation of recommendations arising from the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (IACAC) and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) periodic reviews.

Discussions focused on key areas such as auditing ethics in private enterprises, promoting integrity standards, developing institutional resilience to prevent and combat corruption, and the use of Artificial Intelligence as a transformative anti-corruption tool in both sectors.

President of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Captain Gerry Gouveia Jr. said combating corruption helps to improve the competitiveness of businesses.

“It increases our business competitiveness in the region and internationally. If we could make Guyana the place that international investors would like to come because they feel safe and secure about investing, that is also an added benefit from creating a safe working environment for all,” the PSC President said.

The roundtable is intended to advance the Government’s ongoing collaboration with the Private Sector to strengthen integrity systems, and build resilient public and private institutions in the fight against corruption.

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