Guyana – Among Corrupt Countries, Media and Civil Society Intimidation

2026-02-12 - 15:07

Guyana has recorded only a marginal improvement in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), moving up one position globally. However, the modest gain has been overshadowed by renewed concerns regarding the intimidation of independent media and civil society, developments that observers warn are steadily eroding oversight mechanisms and weakening democratic accountability. According to the report released on Tuesday, Guyana’s CPI score increased from 39 to 40 out of a possible 100. The country now ranks 84th among 184 assessed nations and territories. Despite the slight uptick, Transparency International (TI) maintains that systemic challenges persist. In its previous assessment, TI asserted that Guyana had been effectively captured by economic and political elites, a situation fostering misappropriation of public resources, illicit enrichment, and environmental crimes. “In Guyana, state capture by economic and political elites fosters misappropriation of resources, illicit enrichment and an environmental crime,” the organisation stated in its earlier findings. The report further noted that while anti-corruption laws and institutions have been established, levels of transparency and enforcement remain low. It also warned of increasing attacks on dissenting voices, activists, and journalists. Domestically, allegations of large-scale corruption continue to circulate. There have been widespread complaints that multi-billion-dollar government contracts are being awarded to associates and relatives of public officials. Several ministers have been implicated in alleged corruption schemes, with accusations that some maintain private business interests—including construction companies, hotels, and other enterprises—operated through intermediaries. Transparency International’s 2023 review observed that Guyana’s anti-corruption momentum had stagnated in recent years. When the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) demitted office in 2015, the country’s CPI score was below 30. Under the subsequent APNU+AFC administration, Guyana’s ranking steadily improved, reaching 41 by 2020. Five years after the PPP/C returned to government, the score has slipped slightly to 40. International oversight bodies have also raised concerns. In March 2024, the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) published findings acknowledging Guyana’s adoption of anti-corruption legislation and the creation of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) within the Guyana Police Force. Nevertheless, the Committee questioned the effectiveness of the country’s institutional framework, particularly in preventing and prosecuting corruption involving police officers and senior public officials. The UNHRC highlighted specific deficiencies, including instances in which the Commissioner of Information failed to respond to public requests and delays in enforcing the Protected Disclosures and Witness Protection Act. It urged Guyana to intensify its commitment to good governance by addressing the root causes of corruption, ensuring impartial investigations and prosecutions, strengthening the independence and accountability of oversight bodies, improving access to public information, and accelerating protections for whistleblowers and witnesses. Particular attention was drawn to the management of natural resources, especially in the oil and gas sector. The Committee emphasised the need for comprehensive investigations into allegations of corruption in this critical area and called for enhanced transparency and accountability mechanisms. Regionally, Transparency International reported that the Americas showed no overall progress in combating corruption in 2025, with the regional average remaining at 42 out of 100. Since 2012, twelve of the 33 countries assessed have experienced significant declines. Only the Dominican Republic (37) and Guyana (40) have recorded measurable improvements over that period, reflecting a broader trend of stalled or reversed reform efforts. TI cautioned that prolonged government inaction has weakened democratic institutions, facilitated organised crime, and adversely affected human rights, public services, and security. The report cited examples across the hemisphere. In Colombia (37), Mexico (27), and Brazil (35), corruption has enabled organised crime to penetrate political systems. Costa Rica (56) and Uruguay (73), historically strong democratic performers, are increasingly challenged by violence linked to corruption and criminal networks. Meanwhile, Haiti (16) and Nicaragua (14) continue to struggle with deeply entrenched corruption and institutional failure. In Peru (30), corruption scandals have directly affected public welfare, including allegations that bribes were paid to bypass health inspections, resulting in contaminated food reaching public school students. Argentina (36) is facing investigations into alleged mismanagement of funds allocated for medicines for persons with disabilities. Venezuela (10) remains among the lowest scorers globally, with systemic corruption contributing to widespread poverty, malnutrition, and shortages of essential services. Transparency International also warned that shrinking civic space is undermining oversight in several countries. In El Salvador (32), restrictions on civil society organisations have limited independent monitoring of government actions. Luciana Torchiaro, Regional Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean at Transparency International, stated: “To improve people’s lives and build resilience to organised crime, governments must put the fight against corruption at the centre of their agenda. This means protecting fundamental freedoms, enforcing the law through a strong and independent judiciary, enhancing international cooperation on corruption cases, and making public procurement more transparent.” The CPI evaluates countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption, scoring them from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). In the Americas, Canada (75), Uruguay (73), and Barbados (68) remain the top performers, though TI cautions that even these democracies face emerging challenges. At the lower end of the regional spectrum are Venezuela (10), Nicaragua (14), and Haiti (16), nations marked by repression, institutional weakness, and persistent corruption. The United States (64) has also continued its downward trajectory, recording its lowest-ever score. Although recent 2025 developments are not fully reflected in the current index, concerns have been raised regarding actions perceived as undermining judicial independence and targeting independent voices. Additionally, the temporary freeze and weakening of enforcement under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, alongside reductions in U.S. funding for overseas civil society initiatives, have raised questions about the broader global fight against corruption. Collectively, the findings suggest that while Guyana’s numerical ranking has inched forward, substantial structural and governance challenges remain, particularly in safeguarding institutional independence, protecting civic freedoms, and ensuring transparent management of public resources.