Belmopan, February 22, 2023.
Since 2008, Belize has not been listed or ranked in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index and has fallen short of active pursuit of the preparation to implement the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the Organization of American States Anti-Corruption Convention. Recognizing this, Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño tasked the Ministry of Public Service, Constitutional & Political Reform and Religious Affairs, through its Good Governance Unit, with the mandate of bringing Belize up to readiness to implement anti-corruption measures, both nationally and internationally.
While Belize was not listed and ranked in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2022, the country has been in discussions with representatives of the Latin American and Caribbean Transparency International and the Good Governance Unit to get Belize back in the CPI. During the meetings, it was explained that Belize was not ranked because only two of the 13 data sources used to construct the index had data for Belize; however, for a country to be in the CPI, data must be disclosed from a minimum of three sources.
While Transparency International did not formally list Belize in the 2022 CPI, the organization provided an estimated rank of the country’s corruption index. Using the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, Belize’s level of Control of Corruption was calculated at 45.67% out of 100%, indicating that Belize ranks around 47th to 52nd of 180 countries and territories ranked by Transparency International’s CPI.
The Good Governance Unit pledges to continue the discussions and partnership with Transparency International and the respective data source organization to get Belize formally ranked and listed in the CPI.
Ends
For more information, please contact:
Michelle Rodriguez
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of the Public Service, Constitutional & Political Reform,
and Religious Affairs
