During the period October 09, 2023 to October 11, 2023, a conference was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to launch a regional platform to fast-track the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Representatives from Governmental Departments and State Agencies of various Caribbean countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago were in attendance. A representative, Ms. Jessi Geoffroy, attended the Conference on behalf of the Integrity Commission of Trinidad and Tobago.
At the conference, deliberations took place among the Representatives with guidance from Officials of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Discussions were aimed at identifying best practices, challenges, deficiencies existing in the different jurisdictions as it related to identified priority areas such as legal frameworks, channels of reporting, public and private procurement and prosecution of corruption. Best practices, challenges and deficiencies specific to the Integrity Commission of Trinidad and Tobago were among those raised such as instituting ex parte action against errant/non-compliant Declarants, lack of resources, and non-existence of sanctions with respect to the Code of Conduct respectively. Further, dialogue was also targeted towards formulating solutions to address issues existing within contemporary regimes of the jurisdictions present and devising a way forward to advance the implementation of the UNCAC.
A strategic roadmap, broken up into four thematic areas, was successfully adopted on the final day of the three-day Conference. This has placed the Caribbean among other regions which have similarly adopted platforms including Central America, West and Sahel Africa as well as Southern Africa. The road map is intended to be a guide to respective Governments with respect to specific actions that can be taken to address the thematic priorities thereby ensuring adherence to international obligations under the UNCAC and the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (ICAC).
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