Guyana is set to undergo an anti-corruption review led by experts from Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, and the Organisation of American States (OAS). Such a review would be critical for improving confidence in the government’s management of the quickly growing economy.
Specifically, the country will face its sixth round of on-site review from October 2-5, 2023, under the Follow-Up Mechanism for the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC). This was announced by Guyana’s Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance in accordance with Guyana’s obligations under the Organisation of American States’ Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (IACAC).
The MESICIC is the Organisation of American States’ anti-corruption arm. It convenes 33 of its 34 member states to evaluate their legal frameworks and institutions concerning the Inter-American Convention against Corruption. The review process entails experts visiting the country in question to meet with government and civil society representatives. The goal is to evaluate how national laws and institutions align with the Convention’s provisions and their effectiveness in curbing corruption. These reviews culminate in a report with recommendations for strengthening anti-corruption measures.
For this round, Guyana’s review will be conducted by experts from the Republic of Suriname and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. They will be assisted by staff from the OAS Technical Secretariat during their stay in Georgetown, Guyana.
The review will see active participation from various state agencies including, but not limited to, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Guyana Revenue Authority, Financial Intelligence Unit, Audit Office of Guyana, and the Ministry of Finance.
In addition, several civil society organisations will also participate. Notable inclusions are the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Guyana Bar Association, Transparency Institute of Guyana, and the Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, the lead agency for anti-corruption treaty reporting in Guyana, said it had submitted the nation’s most recent report under the IACAC in May 2023. The Ministry also heads the National Coordinating Committee on anti-corruption, which has been instrumental in training agencies and compiling state party reports as per Guyana’s treaty obligations.
