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St. Vincent & Grenadines

Capital

Kingstown

Territory

390kmĀ²

Population (2020)

110,947

GDP Total (2020)

809.7M USD

GDP Per Capita (2020)

7,298 USD

Icome Group

Upper middle income

Convention Implementation

46.6
In progress

Western Hemisphere Ranking

60.7

28th of 31 countries

Caribbean Ranking

54.7

9th of 11 countries

Corruption Resilience

68.3
Moderately Resilient

Western Hemisphere Ranking

54.4

4th of 31 countries

Caribbean Ranking

57.9

1st of 11 countries

Convention Implementation

Score by thematic sections and measures

Prevention

Core-deficient
38.3

Western Hemisphere 46.3

Caribbean 41.7

Standards of Conduct

Core-deficient
40.6

Western Hemisphere 42.8

Caribbean 24.8

Enforcement of Standards of Conduct

In progress
47.6

Western Hemisphere 50.6

Caribbean 33.4

Training of Public Officials

Core-deficient
31.2

Western Hemisphere 36.8

Caribbean 27.4

Asset and Conflicts of Interests Declarations

Not Implemented
0

Western Hemisphere 42.3

Caribbean 27.9

Transparency in Government Contracting

Core-deficient
33.5

Western Hemisphere 33.1

Caribbean 22.9

Elimination of Favorable Tax Treatment

In progress
50.7

Western Hemisphere 47.1

Caribbean 31.6

Oversight Bodies

Core-deficient
26.5

Western Hemisphere 36.0

Caribbean 34.3

Measures to Deter Domestic and Foreign Bribery

In progress
43.7

Western Hemisphere 36.7

Caribbean 20.0

Encouraging Participation by Civil Society

Core-deficient
40.6

Western Hemisphere 43.0

Caribbean 21.3

Study of Other Prevention Measures

In progress
68.7

Western Hemisphere 44.9

Caribbean 42.8

Criminalization and law enforcement

In progress
46.6

Western Hemisphere 61.1

Caribbean 55.1

Protection of Those who Report Acts of Corruption

Not Implemented
0

Western Hemisphere 30.7

Caribbean 17.8

Scope

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 67.7

Caribbean 53.8

Jurisdiction: Offense-in-Territory

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 74.6

Caribbean 60.0

Jurisdiction: Offense-by-National

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 51.9

Caribbean 27.3

Jurisdiction: Offender-in-Territory

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 58.8

Caribbean 39.5

Passive Public Bribery

In progress
57.8

Western Hemisphere 55.8

Caribbean 55.8

Active Public Bribery

In progress
57.8

Western Hemisphere 56.4

Caribbean 55.5

Abuse of Functions

In progress
57.8

Western Hemisphere 47.0

Caribbean 37.6

Money Laundering

Implemented
100

Western Hemisphere 55.8

Caribbean 58.5

Participation and Attempt

Implemented
100

Western Hemisphere 58.4

Caribbean 54.2

Active Foreign Bribery

Not Implemented
0

Western Hemisphere 39.0

Caribbean 34.7

Illicit Enrichment

Not Implemented
0

Western Hemisphere 54.7

Caribbean 38.9

Use of State Property

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 79.5

Caribbean 66.9

Illicit Acquisition of a Benefit

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 52.1

Caribbean 36.6

Public Embezzlement

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 77.6

Caribbean 64.4

Passive Foreign Bribery

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 25.6

Caribbean 23.4

Private Bribery

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 22.7

Caribbean 21.8

Private Embezzlement

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 64.7

Caribbean 59.5

Obstruction of Justice

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 71.4

Caribbean 61.1

Liability of Legal Persons

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 61.3

Caribbean 62.2

Statute of Limitations

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 79.6

Caribbean 68.

Prosecution, Adjudication and Sanctions

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 69.5

Caribbean 63.2

Consequences and Compensation

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 70.3

Caribbean 60.4

Cooperation With Law Enforcement

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 72.2

Caribbean 66.3

Asset Recovery

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 66.4

Caribbean 59.6

International cooperation

In progress
55

Western Hemisphere 68.9

Caribbean 60.9

Assistance Without Criminalization

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 79.8

Caribbean 69.8

Inclusion in Extradition Treaties

In progress
57.8

Western Hemisphere 55.1

Caribbean 54.5

Convention as Legal Basis for Extradition

In progress
57.8

Western Hemisphere 47.5

Caribbean 31.7

Automatic Application Without Treaty

In progress
57.8

Western Hemisphere 52.7

Caribbean 49.1

Prosecution Without Extradition

In progress
47.6

Western Hemisphere 57.2

Caribbean 56.6

Custody

In progress
57.8

Western Hemisphere 73.4

Caribbean 72.8

Assistance

In progress
50.7

Western Hemisphere 58.0

Caribbean 50.2

Impossibility of Claiming Bank Secrecy

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 84.0

Caribbean 71.3

Limited Use of Information

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 82.6

Caribbean 71.1

Nature of Act

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 84.3

Caribbean 75.7

Designate Central Authorities

In progress
50

Western Hemisphere 75.9

Caribbean 53.9

Responsibilities of Central Authorities

In progress
57.8

Western Hemisphere 71.5

Caribbean 67.1

Communication Between Central Authorities

In progress
57.8

Western Hemisphere 67.3

Caribbean 50.8

Special Investigative Techniques

N/A
Not applicable

Western Hemisphere 56.9

Caribbean 48.5

Technical Cooperation

In progress
54.6

Western Hemisphere 62.8

Caribbean 40.7

Anti-corruption conventions timeline

2001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019

Conventions

  • IACAC - Inter-American Convention Against Corruption
  • UNCAC - United Nations Convention against Corruption
  • OECD Anti-Bribery Convention

Key events

  • Signed
  • Ratifed / acceded
  • Review rounds

Convention Implementation Analysis

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ratified the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (IACAC) on May 28, 2001. It is a State Party to the Follow-Up Mechanism for the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC) since June 4, 2002. Accordingly, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has undergone five rounds of review under MESICIC.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesā€™ record in implementing its commitments to IACAC exhibits a number of failures and almost no successes, with over one third of all measures committed to found to be deficient at core or unimplemented. With an overall score of 46.7, the measures adopted place the country in the lower level of compliance with international norms, surrounded by Suriname (31.7), Dominica (38.4), Guyana (49.1), and Grenada (50.8). Although the country evidences a gradual increase in the rate success from one section of measures to the other, the difference is not large enough to bring special attention to the distribution of efforts. Yet, as is the case throughout the region, the prevention of corruption receives a lower score (38.4) than both criminalization and law enforcement (46.7) and international cooperation (55.0). Overall, it may be said that Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesā€™ efforts are generally lacking across the range of measures required by the conventions.

The prevention of corruption is significantly deficient, classified as ā€œcore-deficientā€ and with a majority of measures within this section found to be deficient at core: the state of oversight bodies (26.6), the training of public officials (31.3), transparency in government contracting (33.6), the standards of conduct (40.6), the initiatives to encourage the participation of civil society (40.6), and the actions to deter domestic and foreign bribery related to accounting regulations (43.8). Furthermore, the country is found to fully lack systems for registering asset and conflict of interests' declarations. Within this section, only two measures reach the classification of ā€œin progressā€: the enforcement of standards of conduct (47.7) and the elimination of favorable tax treatment for corrupt expenditure (50.8).

Concerning the oversight bodies in the country, the report of the fourth round of review of MESICIC (adopted in 2014) highlights severe problems. Among the most prominent, it is noted that ā€œthe [Review] Committee was unable to identify the existence of minimum requirements in terms of professional studies and experience demanded of those aspiring to positions within the [office of the Director of Audit], chiefly those of auditors and/or accounting specialists.ā€ Considerable issues are identified in connection to the Office of the Attorney General as well, as ā€œthe position of Solicitor General (the second-highest post in its organizational structure) has been vacant for a considerable time. This was due to various factors, among which the State under review identified the salary stipulated for the position compared to the qualifications, responsibilities, and obligations to be met by the incumbent. As a result, they said, the Attorney General has to some extent assumed the functions and duties of the Solicitor Generalā€¦ā€

In terms of criminalization and law enforcement, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines shows slightly better results than those regarding preventionā€”yet, significant deficiencies remain. The country is found to have successfully implemented only two key commitmentsā€”the criminalization of money laundering and extended forms of involvement in the commission of corruption offenses such as participation and attempt. On the other hand, the protection of those who report acts of corruption (i.e., whistleblower protection) and the criminalization of active bribery of foreign officials and illicit enrichment are completely absent in the country. Other measures remain in progress.

Corruption Resilience

Score by indicator

Social Context

Resilient
85.3

Western Hemisphere 64.8

Caribbean 69.3

Quality of Government

Moderately Resilient
59.

Western Hemisphere 50.6

Caribbean 51.0

Rule of Law

Moderately Resilient
66.2

Western Hemisphere 51.1

Caribbean 57.1

Business Stability

Moderately Resilient
58.5

Western Hemisphere 50.5

Caribbean 52.3

Violence & Security

Resilient
71.9

Western Hemisphere 55.0

Caribbean 59.9

Corruption Resilience score over the time

Analysis

The social context indicator for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines declined in 2020 by 0.82 points from the previous year. Despite the countryā€™s annual decline, Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesā€™ indicator substantially exceeded the Western Hemisphere country average (64.89) by 20.50 points. Throughout the decade, the countryā€™s indicator score has remained within the mid to high 80, wherein in 2012 it achieved the highest indicator score of 88.97, and its lowest indicator score in 2010 with 83.13. The decade range for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is 5.84 points. In 2020, the countryā€™s indicator score was ranked within the 75th percentile. The countryā€™s indicator score is attributed to respecting civil liberties, political rights, and media freedom.

The countryā€™s quality of government indicator declined in 2020 by 2.98 points from the previous year, resulting in a score of 59.59. Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesā€™ indicator score exceeds the Western Hemisphere average (50.63) by 8.96 points and fall within the top 75th percentile for the Western Hemisphere countries. Since 2010 the countryā€™s indicator score has varied, wherein 2011 it achieved its highest score of 62.83, and in 2015 it achieved its lowest score of 56.48. Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesā€™ indicator score is largely attributed to a sufficient government system with adequate control of corruption.

With regard to the rule of law, Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesā€™ indicator score declined in 2020 by 4.94 points from the previous year. Despite the decline in the countryā€™s indicator score, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was ranked within the top percentile for Western Hemisphere countries. The countryā€™s indicator score is 15.13 points above the Western Hemisphere country average (51.15) for 2020. The countryā€™s rule of law indicator is primarily attributed to judicial independence, and sufficient due process within criminal and civil matters.

The countryā€™s 2020 business stability indicator increased by 3.35 points from the previous year, resulting in a score of 58.54, which exceeds the Western Hemisphere country average (50.53) by 8.01 points. Since 2010, the countryā€™s indicator score has fluctuated between its highest score of 64.59 in 2016 and its lowest score of 55.19. Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesā€™ indicator score is primarily attributed to sufficient controls of corruption and regulatory efficiency.

In terms of violence and security, Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesā€™ 2020 indicator score declined by 2.43 points from the previous year. However, the countryā€™s score still exceeds the Western Hemisphere country average of 55.04 by 16.86 points. The countryā€™s indicator has been steadily improving since 2010ā€”achieving its highest score of 80.02 in 2016 and its lowest score of 55.60 in 2011. Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesā€™ indicator score for 2020 falls within the top percentile. The countryā€™s violence and security indicator score are attributed to effective control on criminal activities and organized crime.