Caribbean Development Bank News Release — December 9, 2021, Bridgetown, Barbados
Today is International Anti-Corruption Day, the global observance of which is led by the United Nations under the theme “Your right, your role: say no to corruption.” The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated that “Corruption betrays people, drains resources and weakens democracies. Anti-Corruption Day highlights the need for us to take a stand for integrity, promote justice and demand accountability.”
CDB completely supports the International Anti-Corruption Day campaign for 2021 and remains fully committed to promoting good governance in its own operations and in its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs). This is in alignment with Goal 16 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which speaks to the building of “effective, accountable and inclusive institutions.”
CDB was pleased to host the second annual Caribbean Conference on Corruption, Compliance, and Cybercrime on December 7 and 8, 2021, under the theme “Ending Poverty and Driving Growth: Promoting Good Governance by Curbing Corruption, Money Laundering and Cybercrime in the Caribbean.” In his keynote address, CDB President Dr. Gene Leon emphasised that embracing good governance is a choice which can build or break credibility, and encouraged regional governments and organisations to make governance the pedestal of credibility by fostering adherence to the rule of law and pursuing anti-corruption policies that promote trust and build integrity.