Financial Crime World

Police Service Lacks Expertise, Resources to Tackle Corruption

A recent report has highlighted the significant challenges facing Barbados’ Police Service in combating corruption, particularly within its Financial Crime Investigation Unit (FCIU). The FCIU, established to investigate public corruption, fraud, and terrorism financing, lacks the necessary expertise and human resources to effectively carry out its mandate.

Challenges Facing Barbados

  • Lack of expertise and human resources within the FCIU
  • Delayed passage of important bills by the parliamentary caucus
  • Data deficit gap, hindering collection and storage of data needed to assess anti-corruption framework

In contrast, Dominica has made significant strides in combating corruption through its strong legal framework and careful selection and training of public servants.

Dominica’s Success Story

Dominica’s Integrity Commission has been instrumental in promoting accountability and transparency. Recent legislation has strengthened provisions for integrity in public office. The commission has also taken steps to engage with the public, raising awareness about the dangers of corruption.

However, despite these efforts, Dominica still faces challenges, including:

  • Lack of laws governing campaign financing
  • Presence of offshore financial institutions with unknown beneficial ownership

Grenada’s Success Story

Grenada has made significant progress in combating corruption over the past few years. The country’s Integrity Commission (GIC) was established in 2013 to receive declarations from public officials and investigate complaints of impropriety and misconduct.

Key highlights include:

  • Strong public education and advocacy program
  • Establishment of a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
  • Integrity Commission Round Table to monitor and mitigate corruption in public bodies

Lessons Learned

The experiences of Barbados, Dominica, and Grenada offer valuable lessons for other Caribbean countries seeking to combat corruption. These include:

  • Importance of a supportive legal framework
  • Careful selection and training of public servants
  • Effective engagement with the public
  • Adequate resources and expertise within law enforcement agencies
  • Role of institutions such as integrity commissions and financial intelligence units in promoting accountability and transparency

As the fight against corruption continues to evolve, it is essential that Caribbean countries learn from each other’s successes and challenges, and work together to build a more transparent and accountable region.