Corruption Perceptions Index 2019 - Executive Summary

AMERICAS With an average score of 43 for the fourth consecutive year, the Americas region fails to make significant progress in the fight against corruption. 32 43 /100 COUNTRIES ASSESSED AVERAGE REGIONAL SCORE TOP SCORERS BOTTOM SCORERS HAITI URUGUAY NICARAGUA CANADA 77 /100 71 /100 69 /100 22 /100 18 /100 16 /100 VENEZUELA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA While Canada is consistently a top performer, with a score of 77 out of 100, the country dropped four points since last year and seven points since 2012. At the bottom of the index, Venezuela scores 16, which is also one of the bottom five scores globally. The region faces significant challenges from political leaders acting in their own self-interest at the expense of the citizens they serve. Specifically, political party financing and electoral integrity are big challenges. For example, the Lava Jato investigation, 11 or “Operation Car Wash”, which exposed corruption spanning at least 10 countries in Latin America, points to a surge in illegal political contributions or donations as part of one of the biggest corruption scandals in history. 12 Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction giant at the heart of the case, was convicted for paying US$1 billion in bribes over the past 15 years, including to political leaders in Brazil, Peru and Argentina during elections. With scores of 22 and 29 respectively, Nicaragua and Mexico are significant decliners on the CPI since 2012. Although the recent Global Corruption Barometer – Latin America and the Caribbean 13 highlights vote-buying and other corruption issues in Mexico, a recent anti-corruption reform, along with a new, legally autonomous attorney general’s office are positive changes. 14 In Nicaragua, social unrest and human rights violations are on the rise. 15 Public services and consultative decision-making are sorely lacking in the country. With a score of 40, Guyana is a significant improver on the CPI since 2012. 16 While there is still much work to do, the government is demonstrating political will to hold former politicians accountable for the misuse of state resources. TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL 12