In a sharp condemnation of Transparency International’s recent Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has urged the organization to ground its assessments in empirical data instead of perception-driven metrics.
During a live broadcast on Thursday, the President questioned the validity of Transparency International’s findings, asserting that they stem from biased sources with evident political agendas rather than objective facts. His remarks followed Transparency International’s decision to assign Guyana a CPI score of 39, indicating a perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Although the report acknowledged that Guyana has established anti-corruption institutions and laws, it criticized the country’s transparency and law enforcement efforts as considerably lacking.
President Ali contended that the report’s conclusions do not accurately represent Guyana’s tangible advancements. “When you look factually, more persons are ticketed. More persons are prosecuted by CANU. More persons came under disciplinary measures in all government agencies, but you score less,” he stated. “What is this? What nonsense is this? What mischief and misinformation is this? None of these matters,” he emphasized.
The CPI is often viewed as a global standard for gauging corruption, yet President Ali pointed out a critical flaw: its ranking is based not on direct evidence or factual inquiries but rather on perceived corruption. He raised several concerns about the organization’s reliance on politically motivated sources and individuals with anti-government biases. The President highlighted that some local figures linked to Transparency International have a history of legal disputes with the government and have openly criticized key state policies. “The important thing is, who is driving this perception? Who are they using, and whose views are being amplified?” he questioned. “It is alarming to see the level of so-called transparency from Transparency International itself.”
One of the most striking paradoxes, according to President Ali, is the CPI’s evaluation of Guyana during the political turmoil of 2020, when the former A Partnership for National Unity – Alliance For Change (APNU-AFC) government resisted leaving office despite a no-confidence vote and court rulings. Remarkably, during that period of governance crisis, the country received a higher corruption ranking than it does under the current administration. “Imagine this, the level of dishonesty with Transparency International here and wherever they send their perception,” the President remarked. He recounted how, in 2020, the government operated without parliamentary oversight, spending over 600 billion dollars, yet still received a better CPI score.
In his address, President Ali also pointed to the recognition from international organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which have commended Guyana for its transparency and governance reforms. Contrarily, the CPI suggests a decline in these areas. “But let us look at some recognized agencies. The UNFCCC stated Guyana’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of climate revenue has also garnered international acclaim, including recognition from the UN. In 2024, our efforts have resulted in being awarded the Champion of Transparency Award by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, making us the first developing country in the world and the second globally to fulfill its required submission for climate transparency reporting based on facts, not perception,” he noted.
To rectify the narrative, President Ali challenged Transparency International to provide factual evidence to substantiate its claims rather than relying on politically charged perception surveys. “We are willing for Transparency International to bring all of their perceived perception to us so that we can respond to it. I challenge them. I challenge them to bring it. Don’t hide under these individuals and persons with a clear motive,” he concluded.
