Dominica posts largest increase in corruption in 2010 in the World
The Dominican.net Newsdesk
Dominica posted the largest increase in corruption in the world in 2010 according to the most recent Corruption Perception Index (CPI) published by Transparency International. The report showed a marked increase in corruption in the country with a decline of 0.7 decimal points over 2009, from 5.9 to 5.2. This was matched only by Cuba, which also declined by 0.7 decimal points.
Areas in yellow are the least corrupt with areas in red showing the most corrupt countries.
The report shows a disturbing trend in corruption in Dominica, which only a few years ago ranked well within the group of countries showing the least amount of corruption.
Dominica has now moved from the 37th least corrupt country in the world in 2007 to number 44 in the most recent survey. An important part of the survey focuses on the payment of bribes to public officials including the Police.
The 2010 CPI measures the degree to which public sector corruption is perceived to exist in 178 countries around the world. It scores countries on a scale from 10 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). Dominica’s score of 5.2 therefore places it in the middle category. The further a country’s score moves from 10 the more corrupt it is perceived.
Overall, the index recorded a marked deterioration in corruption around the world with countries averaging a decline in the index of 0.3 decimal points. Dominica’s decline of 0.7 decimal points was way above average and spells a disturbing trend for that country.
Several countries showed improvement in 2010 over 2009 including: Bhutan, Chile, Ecuador, FYR Macedonia, Gambia, Haiti, Jamaica, Kuwait and Qatar. The following countries showed deterioration from 2009 to 2010: Dominica, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Madagascar, Niger and the United States.
Transparency International (TI) defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. This definition encompasses corrupt practices in both the public and private sectors. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks countries according to the perception of corruption in the public sector. The CPI is an aggregate indicator that combines different sources of information about corruption, making it possible to compare countries.
