By: Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
The Government of Guyana has reiterated its commitment to fairness, transparency, and stronger accountability systems as it continues modernizing the country’s governance and public service structures.
Speaking at the 4th Annual Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Expo, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips outlined several measures aimed at safeguarding human rights and strengthening public institutions. These include tougher penalties for attempts to incite racial hostility, policies promoting equal pay for equal work, and the expansion of shelters and support services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.
Phillips emphasized that Guyana’s development must remain inclusive, noting that the administration is focused on modernizing procurement practices, empowering constitutional bodies, expanding digital government services, and enabling greater public participation in decision-making.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira noted that while Guyana has made meaningful progress in building its governance framework, continued effort is required to address gaps and ensure long-term institutional resilience. “Progress is being made,” she said, “and yet there’s always more work to be done.”
Also addressing the Expo was Wendell Lucas, Deputy Executive Director of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). Lucas highlighted the importance of robust anti-corruption mechanisms and emphasized that Guyana, along with 25 other member states, is being closely monitored for compliance.
He underscored that criminalizing money laundering, corruption and bribery is non-negotiable under international standards. Lucas further stressed that proper record-keeping is vital to maintaining verifiable paper trails that support prosecutions, asset recovery, and overall transparency.
“Corruption steals the identity of a nation and progressively steals the identity of its people,” Lucas stated, warning that such acts must never go unpunished or unchecked.
The Expo continues to serve as a national platform for public awareness, institutional strengthening, and collective action to advance human rights and combat corruption.
