Today is International Anti-Corruption Day, the global observance of which is led by the United Nations. The theme for 2021 is “Your right, your role: say no to corruption”.

Earlier today, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, stated that “Corruption betrays people, drains resources and weakens democracies. Anti-Corruption Day highlights the need for us to take a stand for integrity, promote justice and demand accountability.”

CDB completely supports the International Anti-corruption Day campaign for 2021 and stands in solidarity with other international organisations in observing this day.  Beyond this annual commemoration, the Bank remains fully committed to promoting good governance in its own operations and in our Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs); and to combatting corruption in all its forms. This is in alignment with Goal 16 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which speaks to the building of “effective, accountable and inclusive institutions”.

Internally, the Bank demonstrates its commitment to good governance through the ongoing work of its Office of Integrity Compliance and Accountability (ICA), which manages the risks posed by wrongdoing, including corruption, money laundering, terrorist financing, and cybercrime while helping the Bank to meet its fiduciary duty through training and capacity building. ICA also spearheads CDB’s outreach to our BMCs which centres on fostering and promoting strong governance practices as a means of facilitating sustainable economic growth.

In this regard, CDB was pleased to host the second annual Caribbean Conference on Corruption, Compliance, and Cybercrime on December 7 and 8, 2021. Popularly known as the 3Cs Conference, the event was held under the theme “Ending Poverty and Driving Growth: Promoting Good Governance by Curbing Corruption, Money Laundering and Cybercrime in the Caribbean.” 

The Conference agenda was designed to support the elevation of good governance to standard practice for regional institutions.  The event provided an opportunity to increase awareness about the negative impacts of corruption and highlight how malpractices such as money laundering, cybercrime, bribery and nepotism can derail the region’s sustainable development agenda. It was also a forum for knowledge sharing and collaboration to support our BMCs in identifying, instituting and enhancing fit-for purpose accountability and compliance mechanisms which can safeguard access to financing and enable the most effective use of external funding and other resources.

In my keynote address to the Conference, I emphasised that embracing good governance is a choice which can build or break credibility. I also encouraged regional governments and organisations to make governance the pedestal of credibility by fostering adherence to the rule of law, establishing and maintaining effective legal and regulatory frameworks, and by pursuing anti-corruption policies that promote trust and build integrity. As we observe International Anti-Corruption Day let us, as leaders and citizens of the region, practice and uphold these beneficial practices.  Then, we can truly transform the Caribbean into sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economies where the citizens enjoy security, health, and sustainable livelihoods.