Corruption Perceptions Index: Mauritius drops down global ranking

The Corruption Perceptions Index 2016 were released on Wednesday 25th by Transparency Internationa. The organisation said that “this year’s results highlight the connection between corruption and inequality, which feed off each other to create a vicious circle between corruption, unequal distribution of power in society, and unequal distribution of wealth.” Also, over two-thirds of the 176 countries and territories in this year’s index fall below the midpoint of the scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

This year, Mauritius is ranked at the 50th place comparing to last year where it was at the 45th place. The country is now 3rd in Africa, behind Botswana and Cape Verde. However Mauritius and Rwanda are both tied at the same place. Transparency International explains that “the global average score is a paltry 43, indicating endemic corruption in a country’s public sector. Mauritius on its side has gone from 53 to 54 points, indicating thus that the perception of the level of corruption has worsened. 

According to Transparency Mauritius, “it is clear that the country has been stagnating for some years and it is strongly recommended that the measures promised by the government in its electoral program be implemented as soon as possible.” Transparency Mauritius explains that, for the country to progress it needs “new legislation on the Freedom of Information, the declaration of the assets of elected officials and senior officials, the financing of political parties and the limitation of the number of mandates for the post of Prime Minister. And it takes a sustained campaign to change attitudes. Respect for institutions is essential for good governance, and it would be desirable for appointments at the head of the institutions to be based not on political considerations but on the principle of meritocracy.” 

At the top of the ranking are countries like Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, with scores of over 85. Transparency Mauritius explains that those higher-ranked countries “tend to have higher degrees of press freedom, access to information about public expenditure, stronger standards of integrity for public officials, and independent judicial systems.”