The Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. The Honourable Keith Mitchell stated that the country would adopt governance models to ensure anti-corruption practices. The statement was made while addressing the fourth annual “Centre for Excellence Series Senior Leadership and Management Regional Training Programme”, which was organised by the Office of the Integrity Commission in Grenada.
The Honourable Prime Minister Mitchell reaffirmed his government’s commitment to facilitate regional anti-corruption training and indicated that the country would seriously embrace the global changes that require improvement on governance models and public sector management. He stated that the country’s challenges have become more evident during the COVID- 19 pandemic and assured that “Grenada would continue efforts to improve our own governance models and ensure oversight with effective mechanisms that are responsive to both internal and external threats of corruption”. Grenada has ratified the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption of the Organization of American States (OAS) and has acceded to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. Prime Minister Mitchell said that “such actions signify our collective intention to eliminate the practices and behaviours that foster corruption”.
During the opening ceremony, the Commonwealth Secretary General, Dame Patricia Scotland commented that Caribbean nations are currently faced with the combined impact of the coronavirus pandemic, climate crisis and serious economic challenges. She went on further to say that “on top of these, we have also to tackle, the no less injurious, but perhaps more invisible scourge of corruption; and we do so while simultaneously dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and its many distressing consequences.”
The Secretary General explained that “like the pandemic which countries are fighting to control, corruption inflicts huge human and financial costs and puts in grave jeopardy the wellbeing of the most vulnerable.” Dame Scotland added that although corruption is thought of primarily in monetary terms, the issue impacts quality of life in developing countries. She noted that “the illicit financial flows which cost developing countries US$1.26 trillion per year, if properly applied, would lift above the poverty threshold, the 1.4 billion people who get by on less than US$1.25 per day, and keep them there for at least six years.” The Secretary General reminded participants that no country is immune from corruption and as such cannot become complacent in its activities to fight it.