Transparency Mauritius affiliated to Transparency International

For a quick and transparent outcome to investigations

Numerous alleged cases of fraud and corruption involving organisations and institutions of Mauritius at the highest level, whether concerning the private sector or the public sector, are persistently making the headlines. They are leaving a significant impact on the political, economic and social positioning of Mauritius on the regional as well as the international level, with negative consequences being felt in all domains at the national level.

Thus, the score of Mauritius as seen in the Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) established by the World Economic Forum (WEF), regarding the Public Institutions Index as well as the Corruption Subindex, has dropped from 2002-2003 to 2003-2004.

In 2003-2004, Mauritius was ranked 44th with a score of 4.61, from a total of 102 countries appearing in the list of the Public Institutions Index established by the WEF and published in its Global Competitiveness Report 2003-2004. In 2002-2003, Mauritius was ranked 35th with a score of 4.91, from a total of 80 countries, appearing in the list of the Public Institutions Index established by the WEF and published in its Global Competitiveness Report 2002-2003. Regarding the Corruption Subindex, sub-index to the Public Institutions Index, Mauritius has dropped from the 42nd place with a score of 4.94 from a total of 80 countries in 2002-2003, to the 57th place with a score of 4.58, from a total of 102 countries in 2003-2004.

Singapore, a country to which Mauritius likes to compare itself, was ranked 5th with a score of 6.68 in 2003-2004 and was also ranked 5th in 2002-2003 with a score of 6.65 in the Corruption Subindex of the WEF, a score of 7 representing an absence of corruption.

In 2003-2004, Mauritius was ranked 6th with a score of 4.61 from a total of 25 African states, appearing in the list of the Public Institutions Index established by the WEF in the African Competitiveness Report 2004. Botswana was ranked 1st with a score of 5.45 and Malawi 3rd with a score of 4.79.

Transparency Mauritius as a non-governmental organisation affiliated to Transparency International, makes a pressing call to the authorities and governmental institutions, to politicians of all parties, to the private sector, to the ICAC, to the media as well as civil society as a whole, to combine all their efforts, immediately and transparently, in order to bring light to all those allegations of financial embezzlement, no matter the cases involved, and whatever the eventual implications they may hold, whether political, economic or social.

In the actual context, what will be the rank of Mauritius in 2004 and what will be the consequences regarding foreign investment in the key sectors of the Mauritian economy?

The numerous on-going investigations are certainly going in the right direction. However, there remains a perception shared by many Mauritians that a number of Commissions of Inquiry pertaining to acts of financial embezzlement are not providing the end results expected.

Such perceptions have to be taken seriously by the authorities and corrective measures put in place rapidly in order to ensure that the institutions of this country remain above suspicion. Most certainly it is pleasant to note that Mauritius ratified the UN Convention Against-Corruption on the 25th of June 2004. 108 countries are signatories to this Convention Against-Corruption and Mauritius was the third country to do so after Kenya and Sri Lanka. However acts have to speak for themselves. The citizens are expecting more than just reassuring words. They are expecting clear actions. They are waiting for an outcome to the investigations and rapidly so.

Moreover, Transparency Mauritius expresses deep concerns regarding the negative impact which the numerous alleged cases of corruption and fraud might leave on the image and reputation of Mauritius abroad, on the regional as well as international scene. In a global economic climate, which is becoming more and more difficult for small economies such as Mauritius, the key institutions and organisations of this country have to project a strong image of transparency, integrity and accountability. All the studies on the subject, have shown, that investors move primarily to countries that show clear signs of integrity and honesty.

Jacques de Navacelle, Président
Josie Lapierre, Executive Secretary

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