T&T Joins Regional Anti-Corruption Platform

8 Caribbean countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, are joining forces to fight corruption.

Antigua and Barbuda

The Bahamas

Belize

Dominica

Grenada

Jamaica

Saint Lucia

Trinidad and Tobago

Working with the UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, these countries launched a regional platform to enhance collaboration and speed up implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption.

The conference began on Monday, October 9, 2023, in Port of Spain. UNODC's partners from Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs and the U.S. Embassy Trinidad and Tobago also attended.

UN Resident Coordinator for Trinidad and Tobago, Joanna Kazana, told attendees at the launch, "𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝘆. 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆."

The Caribbean is now the 8th region to create a shared platform to strengthen anti-corruption measures in priority areas they have jointly identified. Using a regional platform helps pinpoint gaps in existing anti-corruption initiatives and assists participating countries to coordinate their work.

See below for RC Kazana's full remarks:

It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to the regional conference launching today the Caribbean platform for cooperation necessary to Fast-Track implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. 

As the new representative of the UN in Port of Spain, I am delighted to acknowledge the hospitality of Trinidad and Tobago and its leading role in launching this initiative in the Caribbean region.  Allow me minister to appreciate your country’s excellent cooperation with our organization, on anti-corruption and on a broad range of development issues and implementation of the SDGs.

I think there is no one in this room who will not agree that Corruption poses significant threats to countries worldwide by undermining the rule of law and the ability of governments to deliver essential services.

It is having a negative economic impact by distorting markets, discouraging investment, and allowing organized crime and other threats to human security to flourish.  What’s worse is that corruption significantly impacts the most vulnerable people, such as low-income population and women, thus deepening inequalities and social exclusion.

The international community has recognized that tackling corruption is vital to global stability and economic growth, maintaining the security of societies, protecting human rights, reducing poverty, preserving the environment, and combating organized crime.

This is reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, whose Goal 16 requires States to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels and by reducing illicit financial flows.

It is also reflected in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) adopted 20 years ago in 2003 which represents a globally-accepted framework and a tool for a worldwide response to a global problem.

At the mid-point to 2030 and as we all try our best to reinvigorate the global 2030 agenda, the launch of initiatives such as the Caribbean Platform to Fast Track implementation of the UN Convention becomes a particularly relevant and valuable opportunity. 

I am confident that through enhanced regional collaboration by state actors, private sector, civil society and the general public, this initiative will significantly contribute to combating corruption in the Caribbean region. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the runup to the global SDG Summit and to United Nations General Assembly which took place in New York last month (and as we all know, the GA is presided over by a distinguished Trinbagonian Ambassador Dennis Francis),  here in Port of Spain, together with the Minister of Planning and Development and the UN Country Team – I had the privilege to host an interesting national debate on SDGs.

The National SDG Roundtable which took place on 11 September and brought together over 100 participants representing all walks of life – from Government, independent experts, civil society and business of T&T identified 10 key priorities, one of which stands out as particularly relevant to our discussion today, and that is the need to

Enhance Institutional Capacity and Transparency

 

The national experts – government and non-governmental voices alike – called for

• Conducting a review of government institutions to identify areas for capacity-building and reform.
• Ensuring that institutions have the necessary resources and expertise to carry out their functions effectively.
• Promoting transparency and accountability in public administration by implementing measures such as open data initiatives, whistleblower protection, and anti-corruption efforts.
• Fostering a culture of meritocracy, continuous improvement and policy implementation within government institutions through training and regular performance evaluation and management.
  
   

I suppose such priorities are common to every country – regardless of its income and level of development. 



What is also common is obvious citizen’s expectation that Governments will deliver on this ambition, and will act in the best interest of its citizens, including through self-assessment and capacity improvement.

The question is HOW to realize such modernization agenda, how to invest in reform efforts that will deliver a modern, efficient, transparent, accountable administration that provides high quality of service to its client – the citizen. 

I am therefore extremely pleased that by launching this very important Platform today, we are deepening our cooperation with the Caribbean states on anti-corruption efforts. 

The UN family – as you all know across the region – supported by our international partners and donors – is your best friend in the fight against corruption.  The UN system agencies work to provide various forms of support to the country through a collaborative, multi-faceted approach:

We offer Technical Assistance and Capacity Building, Policy advice and support to              Legal Reforms, we are ready to support Public Awareness and Education Campaigns             and Promote Access to Information and implementation of open data policies.



 We are able to support the process of Institutional Strengthening and provide     guidance on how to enhance the existing anti-corruption institutions, structures,         mandates, and operational procedures to enhance institutional effectiveness.

International Cooperation and Exchange of Best Practices is key.  I am convinced that this platform will help to create a network and peer exchange of experiences in combatting corruption and promoting transparency.

Lastly, let me stress the importance of Monitoring and Evaluation of these efforts.  What does not get measured – does not get done as Minister Penelope Beckels says. 

In every field it is important to have a concrete plan and come back to it, time and again, to see if you are making progress.  The UN can assist in the development of simple and effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact of anti-corruption efforts by helping to establish indicators, improve data collection methods, and setting up regular reporting mechanisms to measure progress and identify areas for improvement.

The challenges are immense but, together, we have the opportunity and I will add – DUTY -- to overcome them and build a more democratic, inclusive and prosperous societies with greater levels of integrity in public life.

For more information on the UNODC's Anti-Corruption Platforms across the world, visit https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/ft-uncac/platforms.html.