UN committee wants more steps against corruption

section, Guyana said that it responded to issues raised by the Committee during the review and subsequently in additional information with data regarding the anti-corruption measures and cases before the courts.

Guyana added that it is satisfied that it has been recently reviewed under the Inter-American Convention against Corruption by MESICIC and its report was adopted on March 14, 2024. This report has so far not been released to the public. Guyana said that it had also submitted its 2nd Self-Assessment in 2023 and is awaiting the UN Convention Against Corruption onsite review. “Guyana proudly subjects itself to these mechanisms and their review processes, and will continue to do so”, the government here said.

The UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) said it is also concerned about reports of corruption, the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of natural resources, particularly in the oil and gas extractive sector. In this regard, the Committee

said that it is concerned about reports of corruption by public officials in this sector, and the lack of information on measures taken to investigate such allegations.

Guyana also countered this in its response. It said “The State party responded to these allegations made during the review. Further the State party reported on the Natural Resource Fund Act and the Local Content Act and the legal framework for the management of oil revenue to Guyana. It also pointed out that it signed on to the EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) and has brought its reports up to 2021. (The) 2022 report was due in December 2024. As well as currently under review by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force ...”

Guyana also stated that it was unaware of reports of acts of corruption in the oil sector.

The HRC also asserted in its concluding observations that Guyana should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the management of its natural resources is not subject to corruption.

“It should also ensure that government permits granted for the exploitation of natural resources and licenses to exploit oil fields undergo adequate prior environmental and societal impact assessments carried out in a systematic and transparent manner, with a meaningful participation of all affected communities. Furthermore, the State party should ensure prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into reports of corruption in awarding public contracts and prosecute, and if a person is convicted apply penalties commensurate with gravity of the crime”, the Committee said.

Guyana’s rejoinder to this observation was that it was not aware of corruption in the awarding of public contracts in this sector.

“The Audit Office and the Public Procurement Commission, both constitutional bodies, have the authority to investigate and where necessary recommend to the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute”, Guyana said.