St. Vincent & Grenadines
Capital
Kingstown
Territory
390km²
Population (2020)
110,947
GDP Total (2020)
809.7M USD
GDP Per Capita (2020)
7,298 USD
Icome Group
Upper middle income
Convention Implementation
Corruption Resilience
Convention Implementation
Score by thematic sections and measures
Anti-corruption conventions timeline
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|
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 Grenadines’ 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 Grenadines’ efforts are generally lacking across the range of measures required by the conventions.
The prevention of corruption is significantly deficient, classified as “core-deficient” 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 “in progress”: 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 “the [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.” Considerable issues are identified in connection to the Office of the Attorney General as well, as “the 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 General…”
In terms of criminalization and law enforcement, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines shows slightly better results than those regarding prevention—yet, significant deficiencies remain. The country is found to have successfully implemented only two key commitments—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
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 country’s annual decline, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ indicator substantially exceeded the Western Hemisphere country average (64.89) by 20.50 points. Throughout the decade, the country’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 country’s indicator score was ranked within the 75th percentile. The country’s indicator score is attributed to respecting civil liberties, political rights, and media freedom.
The country’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 Grenadines’ 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 country’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 Grenadines’ 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 Grenadines’ indicator score declined in 2020 by 4.94 points from the previous year. Despite the decline in the country’s indicator score, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was ranked within the top percentile for Western Hemisphere countries. The country’s indicator score is 15.13 points above the Western Hemisphere country average (51.15) for 2020. The country’s rule of law indicator is primarily attributed to judicial independence, and sufficient due process within criminal and civil matters.
The country’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 country’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 Grenadines’ indicator score is primarily attributed to sufficient controls of corruption and regulatory efficiency.
In terms of violence and security, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ 2020 indicator score declined by 2.43 points from the previous year. However, the country’s score still exceeds the Western Hemisphere country average of 55.04 by 16.86 points. The country’s indicator has been steadily improving since 2010—achieving its highest score of 80.02 in 2016 and its lowest score of 55.60 in 2011. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ indicator score for 2020 falls within the top percentile. The country’s violence and security indicator score are attributed to effective control on criminal activities and organized crime.