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MEDELLÍN, Colombia, Feb 17 (IPS) – Latin American international locations scored poorly on Transparency Worldwide’s newest corruption index, with the worst becoming a member of the ranks of war-torn nations and dictatorships.
Of the 19 Latin American international locations ranked, three-quarters scored under 50 within the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2021. The worst was Venezuela, which scored under North Korea and Afghanistan.
Utilizing assessments from nation consultants, enterprise analysts, and worldwide organizations, the index charges international locations on a scale from zero to 100. Scores under 50 point out flagrant corruption issues.
The info collected by Transparency Worldwide appears to be like at bribery, the diversion of public funds, officers utilizing their workplace for personal acquire, conflicts of curiosity and authorized protections for these denouncing corruption.
Caribbean international locations fared higher within the index. Of the ten ranked, six scored above 50, although none rated above 65.
When Canada and america are excluded, the common rating for the area is 41, placing it a notch under the worldwide common of 43. With out the Caribbean, it drops to 37.
Beneath, InSight Crime breaks down the scores in a area that continues to be rife with corruption.
Scores of 0 to 25: Extremely Corrupt
Venezuela held the title for the seventh consecutive yr as essentially the most corrupt nation within the Western Hemisphere with a rating of 14, an all-time low for the nation.
As InSight Crime has reported, Venezuela has primarily turn out to be a mafia state. Officers and safety forces at each stage are concerned in felony exercise. Pilfering of state coffers is rampant, whereas drug trafficking, unlawful mining, and different felony economies are widespread.
Venezuelan authorities officers are recognized to collaborate with gangs. State safety forces have colluded with the Colombian guerrilla group the Nationwide Liberation Military (Ejército de Liberación Nacional – ELN) to take management of unlawful gold mines within the Amazon.
The rot in Venezuela begins on the high, with President Nicolás Maduro, whom america Division of Justice has accused of narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking and different offenses.
Simply above Venezuela had been Haiti and Nicaragua, which every obtained a rating of 20.
Haiti noticed a slight uptick as in contrast with the final two years, as the consequences of the July 2021 assassination of the nation’s president, Jovenel Moïse, are solely simply starting to be felt.
In the meantime, Nicaragua noticed its rating hit a brand new low. This isn’t shocking, contemplating that, on his option to successful his fourth consecutive presidential election, President Daniel Ortega used the nation’s justice system to silence political opponents, a few of whom had been jailed or subjected to a variety of abuses.
Honduras additionally hit a brand new low, scoring a 23 — tying the nation with Iraq. The low rating stemmed partly from accusations linking Honduras’ former president, Juan Orlando Hernández, to his brother’s drug trafficking ring.
In the meantime, Guatemala’s rating of 25 remained unchanged from the earlier yr. The nation tied with Iran. Excessive-profile graft probes and the dismissals of these investigating corruption clarify the nation’s low rating.
Scores of 26 to 50: Corruption Points
The typical international corruption notion rating was 43 out of 100. Of the 21 Latin American and Caribbean international locations scoring lower than 50, 19 fell under the worldwide common.
The international locations scoring on this bracket had been Paraguay (30), the Dominican Republic (30), Bolivia (30), Mexico (31), El Salvador (34), Panama (36), Ecuador (36), Peru (36), Brazil (38), Argentina (38) and Colombia (39), Guyana (39), Suriname (39), Trinidad and Tobago (41).
Solely Jamaica (44) and Cuba (46) scored greater than the worldwide common.
Within the case of Paraguay, InSight Crime printed an investigation simply final yr revealing how a Paraguayan congressman conspired with an alleged drug trafficker to guard cocaine shipments in alternate for illicit funds.
El Salvador’s declining rating displays rising corruption inside the authorities of President Nayib Bukele, together with the choice to dissolve the Worldwide Fee in opposition to Impunity in El Salvador (Comisión Internacional Contra la Impunidad de El Salvador – CICIES) after the entity began to research a number of members of the Bukele administration for mismanaging coronavirus emergency funds. Moreover, the US authorities, in 2021, blacklisted two officers with shut ties to Bukele for allegedly making offers with road gangs.
Ecuador’s plummeting rating was additionally to be anticipated. The nation has emerged as a key trafficking route for medicine, arms, explosives, and migrants. Corruption has eaten away at state establishments.
Peru’s falling rating comes as President Pedro Castillo faces corruption allegations which have led to impeachment proceedings, whereas in Argentina, situations of corruption amongst judicial authorities have created the impression of impunity.
Cuba’s comparatively excessive CPI rating could come as a shock to some, provided that it’s a one-party state.
Whereas Cuba’s low corruption notion rating could replicate steps taken to rein in corruption throughout the administrations of former president Raúl Castro and President Miguel Díaz Canel, political corruption stays a difficulty, and the low notion rating could possibly be extra a mirrored image of the nation’s limits on press freedom.
Scores of fifty to 100: Comparatively Clear
Solely three Latin American international locations scored above 50: Uruguay, Chile and Costa Rica.
Uruguay scored greater than america, however decrease than Canada. Transparency Worldwide credited its “unbiased judiciary and the safety of primary rights very important in stopping corruption from permeating the State.” Chile, in the meantime, tied with america.
The Caribbean international locations of Barbados, The Bahamas, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Dominica and Grenada all scored above 50, suggesting minimal corruption issues. However these international locations are all recognized hubs for cash laundering, a recognized contributor to corruption worldwide.
This story was initially printed by InsightCrime
© Inter Press Service (2022) — All Rights ReservedAuthentic supply: Inter Press Service
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