The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The deputy prime minister yesterday queried why The Bahamas had slipped in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception index when it has the “most transparent and accountable government” in its history.

KP Turnquest, pictured, told Tribune Business he was unaware of any issues arising over the past year that would have caused The Bahamas to fall one spot to 29th in the Index, falling further behind Barbados, which has replaced it as the Caribbean nation with the “least perceived corruption” in 25th spot.

The Bahamas’ score of 65 in the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index was flat against the prior year performance, and Mr Turnquest said: “I don’t know what the criteria is on that because, as far as I’m aware, there are no issues that have arisen in the last year to cause a slip in our rating.

“Again I don’t know what the criteria is. It’s clear that we have been as transparent and accountable, certainly more so than any other government in the past. If there are concerns I would certainly be interested to see what they are.

“There very well may be some concerns, or some countries may have done some things that would have significantly improved their rating, but I would be interested in understanding what that is about.”

Lemarque Campbell, of Citizens for a Better Bahamas, Transparency International’s local representative, told Tribune Business earlier this week that The Bahamas’ fall to its lowest-ever spot in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index reflected the Minnis administration’s failure to further deliver on promises that were a key feature of its 2017 election campaign.

While crediting the government for strengthening The Bahamas’ anti-money laundering legislation, and initiating the electronic public sector procurement system, Mr Campbell said efforts in other areas had either stalled, are inadequate or incomplete. He called for this nation to follow the likes of Malaysia and create its own National Anti-Corruption Plan to fight the menace.

Political opponents also pointed to the slippage as a “lack of true commitment” by the Minnis administration towards transparent and accountable governance.

“Even though the current administration had campaigned on transparency and accountability in governance on the 2017 campaign trail, their governance to-date has been marred by scandals, conflicts of interest and inaction, proving that they are no different from their predecessors in government,” said Geoffrey Deleveaux, the DNA’s spokesman for good governance.

Pointing to the Oban deal and other incidents, Mr Deleveaux said the CPI ranking “comes as no surprise”.

“The government should be aware that its actions are being monitored by both domestic and international observers,” he added. “They should go beyond the political rhetoric and wage war on corruption and the perception of corruption in our nation.

“On behalf of the Bahamian people, we demand the full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act and the Integrity Commission Act. We encourage the government to fully embrace the DNA’s platform for good governance by enacting and enforcing Whistleblower and Campaign Finance legislation among others without delay.”