Corruption in Guyana remains a significant concern for therepublic, requiring ongoing efforts to combat the problem. The country's 2024 ranking inTransparency International’sCorruption Perceptions Index was 92nd place and its rating, which stands at 39 out of 100, has declined from 41 since 2020.[1] Persistent corruption issues include bribery, embezzlement, and misappropriation of public funds.
According to Robeson Benn, the Minister of Home Affairs, the procurement process in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been a source of corruption and remains the biggest immediate problem within the organization.[2] Recent reports demonstrated that high-profile officers were implicated in allegations of corruption such as Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus. He has been investigated for alleged financial improprieties and has been on leave since July 2024.[3] Charges of corruption within the police force has already attracted the attention of NGOs such as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as theUnited States Embassy in Guyana. Benn also cited similar corruption challenges in the cases of Guyana Fire Service and Guyana Prison Service.[4]
A problematic area that creates incidences of corruption in Guyana ispetroleum licensing and contracting transactions. In 2015, the discovery of vast oil reserves off the coast of the country provided significant potential to Guyana's economic development. Presently, oil has already generated $1 billion in annual revenue and this figure is estimated to reach $7.5 billion by 2040.[5] The influx of wealth, however, also created opportunities for corruption. This is demonstrated in the case of ExxonMobil.
ExxonMobil holds a license to extract oil resources in Guyana. However, as is the case in its global operations, it often outsources the bulk of the work from contractors to get natural resources out of the ground.[6] According to theNatural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), this practice creates corruption risks in the operations of these suppliers such as bribery, favoritism, and state capture. This is highlighted by reports that suppliers, which have been contracted in Guyana, such asSaipem,Halliburton, andSBM Offshore have been involved in corrupt practices in their respective operations elsewhere in order to gain advantages.[6]
The state-owned Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) was also cited in a report by the Auditor General in 2021 for alleged impropriety lodged by Jayson Aaron and his company, Aaron Royalty Inc. Although the report did not cite any laws broken over a claimed assurance of a contract, it noted that the company's officials violated standards and procedures for procuring fuel and recommended disciplinary actions.[7]
The legal framework that addresses and penalizes corruption in Guyana includes the Integrity Commission Act, State Assets Recovery Act, and the Audit Act.[8] Observers see a need to introduce more reforms such as the establishment of an agency that can investigate and prosecute corrupt practices, the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, and the passage of key corruption legislation, among others.[9] The Integrity Commission Act, for instance, was only reconstituted in 2022. While it can collect asset declarations from public officials, its mandate is limited to reporting irregularities for other authorities to investigate.[8]
Recently, Guyana has instituted more measures to address corruption. The National Tender & Procurement Administration, for instance, has already established guidelines for public procurement procedures.[10] In 2021, the National Coordinating Committee on Anti-Corruption was also established. This body monitors and facilitates Guyana's commitments to regional and international anti-corruption treaties, conventions, and agreements. Guyana Vice PresidentBharrat Jagdeo has also thrown his support behind the proposal to require a prequalifying exam for contractors to prevent corrupt practices.[11]
Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index gave Guyana a score of 39 on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"). When ranked by score, Guyana ranked 92nd among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector.[12] For comparison with regional scores, the best score among the countries of the Americas[Note 1] was 76, the average score was 42 and the worst score was 10.[13] For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90 (ranked 1), the average score was 43, and the worst score was 8 (ranked 180).[14]
