(Commonwealth)_ Over 100 government and organizational officials from throughout the Caribbean attended St. Lucia last month for the 11th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies, a new regional initiative to fight corruption and uphold ethical governance.
Assembly under the auspices of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the conference restated the firm and collective commitment of Commonwealth nations to addressing the actual and continued issue of corruption and ushering in a culture of accountability and transparency. Highlighted in the first session, presented on behalf of Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, were strongly reiterated imperative calls for the nations to bring international treaties into domestic legislation, to have functional integrity commissions, and to bring about social change toward moral public leadership.
The Commonwealth Secretariat provided crucial leadership in terms of directing the deliberations in the conference, that is, on issues of good governance, reform of justice, and the rule of law. These efforts are crucial to the overall strategy for combating corruption and building institutions in the region.
The most apparent thing about the conference was the cooperative mood that it fostered. Participants took turns exchanging regional experiences and international best practices on corruption, discussing leadership change approaches, utilizing technology to combat corruption, establishing open asset declaration systems, and debating whether to advocate for an International Anti-Corruption Court. A shared understanding emerged from this exchange, emphasizing the need to address corruption not only at the national level but also through regional and international cooperation.
The recent past has seen tangible progress in Commonwealth Caribbean anti-corruption activities. Anti-corruption leaders in the Commonwealth Caribbean have endorsed a list of tangible steps toward deepened cooperation, strengthened structure and functioning of integrity commissions, and strengthened preventive means. Such measures are part of a full set of actions in the Commonwealth Caribbean Anti-Corruption Initiatives to strengthen the capacity and accountability of public institutions.
Additionally, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) has set guidance for reform. Caribbean states have embarked on a regional platform to promote the implementation of the UNCAC. The program seeks to strengthen legal instruments, improve transparency in public procurement, protect whistleblowers, and improve the prosecution of corruption offenses. These efforts are aimed at creating a more open and more equitable system of government that will foster sustainable development and economic growth. Absent these efforts, corruption will continue to put massive economic costs on Caribbean states, eroding public confidence, discouraging investment, and disproportionately affecting the poor.
Beneath such change, the Public Sector Governance unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat maintained the wide-ranging impacts of corruption and its characterization as social injustice and economic setback to development. The Secretariat has fostered strong systems of justice, youth engagement in good government, and dynamic discouragement policies of bad behavior. Also highlighted was the need for a culture in which integrity is not just expected but mandated at all levels of governance.
One of the most significant forum participants was the Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General, who presented on regional achievements and underscored that it was vital to solidify them. He used the Corruption Perception Index, which has reported sustained progress across the Commonwealth Caribbean. He identified the positive trend as a result of the joint efforts, moral leadership, and institutional reforms that the regional governments and anti-corruption agencies were introducing.
The summit concluded with a commitment to continuous action, as the participants agreed to maintain momentum and further enhance anti-corruption measures throughout the region. The future initiatives of the Commonwealth Caribbean in making justice and transparency available are poised to play a key role in shaping public trust and ushering in inclusive, sustainable development for future generations. The 11th annual conference reaffirmed the value of regional cooperation and reasserted the Commonwealth as a key player to drive integrity and good governance throughout the Caribbean.
