As Transparency International (TI) publishes their annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) this week, it will be interesting to see where certain countries land: 2021 has been a bumper year for corruption.
In Britain, corruption has been on the minds of journalists, academics and practitioners alike, as Boris Johnson tries to get himself run out, the only hope of him continuing his innings lying with Sue Gray.
However, in the ex-British territories of the West Indies this is not a popcorn moment. Similar scenes of state capture unfold in these islands and, to be honest, it is just not cricket. Very few politicians here play with a straight bat and even when caught out, the umpire is seemingly blind. Spectators are leaving in droves: a massive brain drain has weakened Caribbean economies significantly over the past five decades, alongside cronyism, state capture and procurement fraud. The politicians left behind to run these countries are the most unqualified and unscrupulous one can find, a state referred to as a kakistocracy.
Resources continue to be drained by corrupt infrastructure projects, while expenditure in health and education, critical to nation building, remains insufficient. But as these sectors fall behind the rest of the world, a new player has emerged in the Caribbean. In 2018, Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean country to officially sign up to Chinas $4tn global belt and road development initiative. Suriname, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and even the progressive leadership in Barbados followed (et tu Mia?). Jamaica was last in to bat and did not put up much of a resistance.
So what is China trying to achieve? Neocolonialism? Cynics would say there is no such thing as a free lunch. Just ask Sri Lanka and Uganda. The Hambantota port development project in Sri Lanka, led by the China Harbour Engineering Company, was predicted to fail and lived up to that expectation. The new Sri Lankan government, after struggling to make payments on the debt, handed over the port on a 99-year lease, including 15,000 acres of land. More recently, China has been forced to deny reports that it will gain control of Ugandas Entebbe international airport if the country defaults on debt repayments.
An old quote attributed to John Adams states that the way to subjugate a country is through either the sword or debt. China has assiduously chosen the latter. Debt deals have provoked criticism against Xi Jinpings belt and road initiative and insinuations that his global investment and lending programme is nothing more than a trap, fuelling corruption and autocratic behaviour in struggling and vulnerable democracies.
Some believe that the intent is twofold: to gain strategic trade footholds in the Caribbean and Latin America through debt and duress and to snare allies in its escalating feud with Taiwan. Taiwans remaining friends include Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines. Much can be said for the rich kid who owns the bat you can play as long as you are not mates with Taiwan. This will of course manifest in the UN arena as Xi buys more support though his use of corrosive capital.
One can argue that the Caribbean islands dont have much choice the pandemic has been merciless to their economies. Should they approach the International Monetary Fund, cap in hand, and be subjected to austerity measures that make governments unpopular with their people? Is there another option?
A recent photo of Clive Lloyd, captain of historys most successful West Indies cricket team and one of the most successful test captains of all time, being knighted drew mixed reactions. The sight of Lloyd bending the knee, not in support of Colin Kaepernick, but to receive an affirmation from the monarchy of Britain, the ex-colonial masters, ignited fresh debate about reparations.
Could reparations be the strategic tool for Europe to remove Chinas hold on the Caribbean, and for these islands to throw off the shackles of poor governance, underdevelopment and inequality once and for all? It could be pure genius.
In 2013, the Caricom Reparations Commission (CRC) was established by the Caribbean heads of governments to establish the moral, ethical and legal case for the payment of reparations by all the former colonial powers to the people of the Caribbean for the crimes against humanity of genocide, the transatlantic slave trade and the racialised system of chattel slavery.
To deliver the CRCs mandate, the Caricom Reparations Justice Program asserts that victims and descendants of these crimes have a legal right to reparatory justice, and that those who committed these crimes, and have been enriched by proceeds, have a reparatory case to answer. The CRCs action plan includes debt cancellation, alongside financing of programmes including technology transfer, literacy, health and indigenous peoples development. It could take a long time to get all the parties to the table a frequent remark by an old professor of mine resonates: If you want to not get something done form a committee. But it is an opportunity.
Transparency Internationals 2021 index will reveal global corruption continuing to thwart opportunity, to hamstring countries abilities to protect public health and their economies during the pandemic. There has been no progress, only more allegations of Covid procurement fraud and corrupt contracts awarded to ministers friends and family.
Last year, Delia Ferreira Rubio, the chair of Transparency International, said: Its a corruption crisis. And one that were currently failing to manage. It is a sentiment unlikely to have changed.
Sign up for a different view with our Global Dispatch newsletter a roundup of our top stories from around the world, recommended reads, and thoughts from our team on key development and human rights issues, delivered to your inbox every two weeks:
Sign up for Global Dispatch please check your spam folder for the confirmation email
See the article here:
Reparations to the Caribbean could break the cycle of corruption and Chinas grip - The Guardian
- New satellite imagery reveals expanse of oil spill in Caribbean - Fox Weather - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Oil spill off Trinidad and Tobago blackens Caribbean beaches - The Washington Post - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Passenger dies aboard 9-month Royal Caribbean cruise around the world - NBC News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Group Signs with Chantiers For Next Oasis Class Ship - Cruise Industry News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Perfect Day at CocoCay new adult-only area: review - Business Insider - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Tourists Warned To Protect Their Passports As Thefts In The Mexican Caribbean On The Rise - The Cancun Sun - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Antigua: Elderly man charged with second homicide of 2024 | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- With Jamaica and Bahamas under travel advisories, which Caribbean islands are safe to book your next vacation? - SILive.com - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Gives Unprecedented Choice on Ultimate World Cruise - Cruise Hive - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Disney's Extensive Pirates of the Caribbean Change Officially Closes Attraction - Inside the Magic - Inside the Magic - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas: What it's like to stay on the largest cruise ship in the world - CNA: Breaking News, Singapore News, World and... - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- At Grenada's Spice Island Beach Resort, the Art of the Luxury All-Inclusive - Caribbean Journal - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Director Malaury Eloi-Paisley on Her Debut Documentary 'L'Homme Vertige,' and the Unvarnished Reality of ... - Yahoo Entertainment - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- See Royal Caribbean's newest giant cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas - Business Insider - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Preparing for Development of the Blue Economy in the U.S. Caribbean - NOAA Fisheries - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 16 February 2024 - Haiti - ReliefWeb - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Europe and Latin America & the Caribbean step up cooperation on cybersecurity - EEAS - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Confirms 9-Month Cruise Will Not Go Through Red Sea and Suez Canal Due to Middle East Unrest - PEOPLE - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Where is Death in Paradise set? The Caribbean island behind the BBC show - The Independent - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Trinidad and Tobago: overturned barge leaks oil into Caribbean Sea video report - The Guardian - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- The next five venues for the Caribbean Series confirmed - AS USA - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Firing February in the Caribbean - Surfline.com Surf News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- 5 Best Luxury Resorts in the Caribbean for Adults - Insider Monkey - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean orders new ship weeks after Icon of the Seas launch - Ship Technology - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Suspect charged in fatal stabbing of woman in St Vincent | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Inside the Issue: Questlove on the Cover, Caribbean Escapes, and More - Business Traveler USA - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Unveils 2025-26 Northeast, Caribbean Sailings - Cruise Industry News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- How to follow the 2024 RORC Caribbean 600 - RORC Caribbean 600 - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Oil Spill off the Coast of Trinidad and Tobago Drifts Into Caribbean, Threatening Marine Life and Coral Reefs - EcoWatch - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- OPCW advanced chemical response capability training for Latin ... - Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- These 3 Caribbean Destinations Are Some of the Most Popular (and ... - Travel + Leisure - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (As of 20 ... - ReliefWeb - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Caribbean Cup SF on The Rise: Franklin Singodikromo - Concacaf - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Former Royal Caribbean Ship to Be Retired and Scrapped - Cruise Hive - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- What's it Like to Sail on Explora I in the Caribbean? - Cruise Critic - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- African, Caribbean Nations Agree To Pursue Reparations For Slavery - BET - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- IDB Invest Mobilizes the Largest Renewable Energy Financing in ... - BNamericas English - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- OPCW forum in Barbados enhances national implementation of the ... - Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Anderson targets improvement during tenure as regional VP of ... - sportsmax.tv - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Jervon Sands chosen as Rhodes Scholar for Commonwealth ... - The Washington Informer - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- The Commonwealth should establish a Reparations and Aid Fund ... - Insidethegames.biz - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Royal Caribbean passenger dies after excursion boat sinks on way to private island in Bahamas - NBC 6 South Florida - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Regional paint producers want increased tariffs on imported ... - Loop News Caribbean - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Former Mets Coming to Citi Field for Titans of the Caribbean Series - metsmerizedonline.com - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- LIONS, MERMAIDS AND PIRATES, OH MY! ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S ICON OF THE SEAS TO DEBUT SHOW ... - Royal Caribbean Press Center - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- It's not your imagination - Royal Caribbean is sending fewer ships to Europe - Royal Caribbean Blog - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- I'm going on Royal Caribbean's first world cruise for 274 nights: Why I booked and what I'm expecting - Royal Caribbean Blog - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- The 15 Best Spa Resorts in the Caribbean - Caribbean Journal - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- British Virgin Islands to review its minimum wage | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Royal Caribbean Unveils Full-Scale Shows for Icon of the Seas - Cruise Hive - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Opportunities for Latin American and Caribbean youth facing the ... - World Bank - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Celebrity Cruises Has a New Ship Heading for the Caribbean - Caribbean Journal - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Frogs were Florida's first-known vertebrates from the Caribbean - University of Florida - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- LatAm, Caribbean progress in fighting hunger, though COVID-19 ... - Reuters - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Largest Princess ship ever ported in Texas launches first Caribbean ... - CultureMap Dallas - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Why You Should Visit This Underrated Caribbean Destination Right Now - Travel Off Path - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- System in Caribbean to move inland over Central America - South Florida Sun Sentinel - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Webinar: Launch, Grow, and Accelerate Your Sales in the ... - news.delaware.gov - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Insurance in the Caribbean islands what's in the sector's future? - Insurance Business - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Why the Cayman Islands Is a Caribbean Culinary Capital - Caribbean Journal - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Integration Sector: Background Notes - Caribbean October 2023 ... - ReliefWeb - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Coral Seeding - Restoring Coral Reefs in the Caribbean - InfoBonaire.com - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- USAID Announces $25 Million to Address the Challenges of ... - USAID - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- EXPLORA I arrives in Miami for maiden call ahead of Caribbean ... - PAX News - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- A $7000 Suite on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas Cruise - Royal Caribbean Blog - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- These Are The Top 3 Fastest Growing Destinations In The Mexican ... - Travel Off Path - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Central America and Caribbean Price Bulletin, October 2023 ... - ReliefWeb - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Digital Financial Inclusion: Insights and Opportunities from the ... - ReliefWeb - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Caribbean tropical rainstorm to bring dangerous conditions to Central America - AOL - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Why The Mexican Caribbean Is The Best Digital Nomad Hotspot In ... - The Cancun Sun - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Curry Lobster With Potato Caribbean Life - Caribbean Life - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Caribbean Regional Consultation Meeting on Integrated Financing ... - UNEP - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Royal Caribbean's most expensive specialty restaurant ever will take 3 hours and cost $200 per person - Royal Caribbean Blog - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Tropical storms expected to land in Caribbean, Texas as forecasters watch 3 other systems - South Florida Sun Sentinel - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- New Royal Caribbean Survey Shows the Spanish On Top - Cruise Hive - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Tropical Storm Franklin to bring possible life-threatening flooding to Caribbean - Yahoo News - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- 10 Pirates Of The Caribbean Characters Who Need To Return In POTC 6 - Screen Rant - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Pirates Of The Caribbean Turned 20 This Year, And One Star Looked Back At Filming With Johnny Depp - CinemaBlend - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (As of 21 August 2023) - Haiti - ReliefWeb - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- New York honors Caribbean icon: Harry Belafonte receives key to the city posthumously - caribbeannationalweekly.com - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]