This one category where we, DR, do not want to score high... Corruption index (see below link)
Where do we start I ask myself. At the 5th grade level, with the parents, the politicos, the private sector? I have a suggestion, start with the banking system. Ensure there are policies (fraud, risk, compliance, etc) in place where deposits and payments can be traced to income, revenue, or legal transaction?
Dominican Republic is the 3rd most corrupt Island in the Caribbean.
NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Jan. 27, 2015: Seven CARICOM nations have scored below 50 on the latest Transparency International Corruption Index released today, making them the most corrupt nations in the entire Caribbean according the latest Transparency International Corruption Index released this morning.
Here are the top 7 as complied by News Americas Now. Corruption is defined as comprising illegal activities, which are deliberately hidden and only come to light through scandals, investigations or prosecutions.
1: Haiti: With a low score of 17 on Transparency International?s Corruption Perceptions Index in 2015 compared to 19 in 2014, Haiti ranked as the most corrupt country in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti is a major narco-trafficking transshipment point according to the U.S. naro-reports. The dysfunctional judicial system is underfunded, inefficient, corrupt, and burdened by a large backlog of cases, outdated legal codes, and poor facilities according to the Heritage Foundations? 2015 Index of Economic Freedom.
2: Guyana: The South American nation of Guyana also dropped down the TI 2015 rank, coming in at 29 compared to 30 last year, making it the second most corrupt nation in the Caribbean. The cocaine trade has generated corruption and violence.
3: Dominican Republic: The Dominican Republic came in at three on the most corrupt scale, scoring a TI rank of 33, up from 32 in 2014. According to the Heritage Foundations? 2015 Index of Economic Freedom report, the judiciary in the DR is politicized and riddled with corruption, and the legal system offers little recourse to those who lack money or influence. Additionally, ?Corruption is still pervasive in the economy, exacerbated by drug trafficking in recent years.?
4: Suriname: The fourth most corrupt Caribbean nation is Suriname with a TI rank of 36. This former Dutch Caribbean territory actually retained its rank from 2014, showing no improvements. It is a country where the Heritage Foundations? 2015 Index of Economic Freedom report says the rule of law is undermined by a growing domestic drug trade that encourages corruption. Additionally, ?Organized crime and drug networks undermine governance and the judicial system.? Corruption is also most pervasive in government procurement, license issuance, land policy, and taxation, HF said.
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5: Trinidad & Tobago: The oil rich nation of Trinidad & Tobago came in at fifth on the most corrupt list across the Caribbean. It actually dropped on the TI rank for 2015, increasing to 39 from 38 in 2014. It is a place where HF says ?drug-related violence undermines the rule of law, and corruption has infiltrated the police force and increases the daily cost of living and corruption, much of it drug-related, diverts resources and damages the rule of law.? The HF report also found that the judicial branch is independent but subject to some political pressure and corruption.
6: Jamaica: Taking the sixth spot on the list of most corrupt Caribbean nations is Jamaica. It came in at 41 on the latest ranks, up from 38 in 2014. According to the Heritage Foundation, ?Jamaicans see corruption as a root cause of their high crime rate.? HF also says the government has yet to send a strong signal against corruption.