SVG Ranked Third Most Transparent Caribbean Nation In 2016 Corruption Index

St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has been ranked in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2016 as the third most transparent nation in the Caribbean region.

The index, which was conducted by global non-governmental organization Transparency International, was released on Wednesday, January 25; in which SVG ranked 35 overall – with a score of 60 – out of 176 countries across the globe.

In the Caribbean region, the Bahamas ranked first (24th globally) with a score of 66; Barbados ranked second (26th globally) with a score of 61; and St. Lucia tied with SVG for third (35th globally) with a score of 60.

The annual index indicates the perceived level of corruption within the public sector on a scale of 0 to 100 – where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

Analysis given by Transparency International states that over two-thirds of the 176 countries and territories in this year’s index fall below the mid-point of the scale; with a global average of 43.

The analysis also pointed out that more countries had declined, rather than improved, in this year’s results – showing an “urgent need for committed action to thwart corruption”.

With no data available for SVG in 2015, this country scored 67 on the index in 2014, and 62 in 2013 and 2012.

There was also no data available for the Bahamas, Barbados and St. Lucia in 2015 (also 2014 for St. Lucia). The Bahamas scored 71 in 2014, 2013 and 2012; Barbados scored 74 in 2014, 75 in 2013 and 76 in 2012; and St. Lucia scored 71 in 2013 and 2012.