UN considers seating Caribbean Anti-Corruption Academy in Guyana

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 September 2015, 20:28 by GxMedia

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman takes note of a point made by Regional Representative of the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean for the UNODC, Amado Philip de Andres as UN Resident Coordinator, Khadija Musa, Programme Coordinator- Operations and Programmes for the UNODC, Olivier Inizan and Legal Technical Officer (NRE), Tamara Khan, looks on. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Wednesday said it is considering a Caribbean anti-corruption academy in Guyana where the four-month old government appears to be serious about tackling that scourge.

“We were discussing options to help Guyana and one of the options was to establish a Regional Anti-Corruption Academy for the Caribbean and Central America. It is a carbon copy of the International Anti- Corruption Academy, located in Vienna.  We want to set up a pilot country and that can be possibly be Guyana,” said Regional Representative of the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean for the UNODC, Amado Philip de Andres  

The Ministry of the Presidency said the idea to set up the academy here to target transparency and accountability in the Caribbean was floated in talks between Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, United Nations Resident Cooridinator Kahdija Musa, de Andres and Programme Coordinator- Operations and Programmes for the UNODC, Olivier Inizan. 

Musa, in brief remarks, told Minister Trotman that the UN has recognised the new government’s interest in fighting corruption and crime and as such, the meeting was organised to see how best those efforts can be aided.

“Since we know that there is a government which is interested in the fight against crime and drugs, and all those issues are paramount here and on the international front, we felt since you are now establishing your framework and structure, that it was important that UNODC come and share what they can do or in what areas they can assist so we initiated the visit,” Musa said.

The Regional Representative of the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean for the UNODC also noted that the UNODC is working on an Anti -Corruption and Transparency Diploma course for civil servants, which will be tailor made to suit each other on board the initiative. He also expressed the world body’s support in tackling and addressing Environmental crimes.

Minister Trotman, on behalf of the Government, welcomed these proposals, noting that they will be favorably considered for the good governing of the country.

“These are very good proposals, especially an institute where we can train multiple compliance officers, to sensitize them to identify and eradicate corruption. We welcome your support and pledge the Government’s willingness to explore these going forward,” Minister Trotman told the team.