MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS STATEMENT — BY HON. CARL GREENIDGE, VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT THE EIGHT SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS, LIMA, PERU, APRIL 14, 2018

EIGHTH SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS,

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AGAINST CORRUPTION

HIS EXCELLENCY CARL GREENIDGE

VICE PRESIDENT AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

LIMA, PERU, APRIL 14, 2018

Excellencies,

 The delegation of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is delighted to be in Peru for this event. At the outset, I wish to commend the Government and people of Peru for their warm hospitality, kind courtesies and excellent arrangements put in place to facilitate our participation at this Eighth Summit of the Americas. Permit me also to make special mention of the exceptional and dazzling cultural display we were privileged to witness last evening.

 I congratulate the Government of Peru for its stewardship over the Summit process and the work that has been accomplished over the past year. I also take this opportunity to extend best wishes to you President Martín Alberto Vizcarra Cornejo on your inauguration as the 67th President of the Republic of Peru.

 Permit me to add my expression of firm solidarity with the Government and people of Ecuador on the senseless and cowardly murder of the two journalists and their driver who were doing nothing more or less than their job.

 The theme for this summit “Democratic Governance against Corruption” could not be more appropriate, especially at a time when Corruption has been deemed to be one of the major impediments to the development and stability of our hemisphere.

 Despite 183 countries have ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption and having secured almost universal adherence to its principles, eradication of the scourge of corruption remains a major challenge and threat to the sustainability of democratic institutions, state security and the rule of law across the globe. Corruption accounts for the loss of extensive volumes of resources through illicit financial flows that could have been fruitfully utilized to facilitate economic transformation and human development.

 It is against this backdrop that the Government of Guyana has taken concrete steps in the fight against corruption in an effort to build a more prosperous, safe, sustainable and democratic society. Guyana has implemented several laws and regulations to strengthen its legal systems and institutions in order investigate, prosecute and deter corrupt acts.

 The State Assets Recovery Act assented to in May 2017 embodies the anti-corruption thrust of the state and is predicated on the 2003 United Nations Convention against Corruption, to engage in international cooperation in the recovery of stolen assets of the state.

 The Protected Disclosure Bill and Witness Protection Bill both passed in Guyana’s Parliament in January 2018, aimed at combating corruption and other forms of wrongdoing by encouraging and facilitating disclosure of improper conduct in both the public and private sectors. These are a testament to the commitment and advances made by the Government of Guyana in the fight against corruption.

 I should like to add that in keeping with my Government´s pre-election promises a Public Procurement Commission Act was passed in 2016 and the Commission has been appointed. They are charged with overseeing the award and execution of public contracts in accordance with the law, public policy and value for money.

 Moreover, I am pleased to highlight that a regulatory system has been put in place to promote transparency and accountability in public offices. This provides an Access to Information Act 2011, the Public Procurement Act (cap 73:01) and the Integrity Commission Act (cap 26:01). Furthermore, Guyana has launched several public awareness sessions aimed at educating communities across the country and to engage stakeholders on the extent of the legislation and bills aimed at tackling corruption.

 The Government of Guyana is also committed to the preservation of an effective Anti- Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act assented to on August 4, 2016. Guyana has made significant progress on this front and continues to work closely with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and by extension the Financial Action Task Force to strengthen the legislative and regulatory framework. Businesses and professionals have been required to put in place systems and processes to deter exploitation by criminals and thereby report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.

Guyana recognizes that there have been innumerable initiatives aimed at combating Corruption in several countries. These initiatives have taken the form of enhanced laws and the establishment of solid, reputable institutions. In spite of these steps, the region is plagued with several high profile cases of corruption. The World Economic Forum estimates that the financial cost of corruption is equivalent to more than 5% of global GDP. Corruption also corrodes public trust in government institutions, undermines the rule of law, impairs and contribute to violence and insecurity and is a major hindrance to the twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity for the poorest 40% of people in developing countries.

Reducing corruption is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals. Corruption hinders economic growth and development and must be eliminated at all costs. Combating illicit financial flows, capacity building in public administration and encouraging partnership with the private sector as well as the inclusion of strong and active civil society actors are steps towards this end. Effective governance structures and institutions that are accountable transparent, effective and efficient, strong leadership, and respect for the rule of law will boost these efforts.

 With regard to combatting illicit financial flows, I especially wish to endorse the statement by the Prime Minister of the Bahamas who warned of the unintended consequences of too onerous regulations with particular respect to the withdrawal of Correspondent Banking relations from Caribbean jurisdictions in particular and small states in general.

 Delivering a better tomorrow will require integrated responses to the challenges of corruption by all nations. Guyana, therefore, joins in the call for the redoubling of efforts to eradicate corruption in all its forms. I take this opportunity to reiterate my Government’s commitment to the strengthening of the anti-corruption mechanisms and strategies in  keeping with  anti-corruption treaties to which we are signatories: the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the Inter-American Convention against Corruption; notwithstanding also our commitment to enhance partnership at the regional and international level through broad-based cooperation among the judiciary, police, and prosecutorial authorities and financial intelligence units.

 Guyana fully supports the Commitment of Lima and looks forward to working with all our hemispheric partners in pursuit of practical measures to translate these fundamental principles into meaningful action.

 I thank you.