Share
The issue of
corruption is not a new story or a solo incident of someone who uses his
authority to seize state lands or public funds. In a press conference held by
Kuwait Transparency Society announcing the results of the global Corruption
Perceptions Index 2018 issued by Transparency International, it showed Kuwait
ranked 78th in the world, 8th in the Arab world and fifth in the Gulf region on
the index.
Of course,
corruption is an offense to the country and people, and devastating if not
combatted. I heard on the radio about an anti-corruption strategy launched by
the Kuwaiti government. The strategy is for a period of five years from 2019 to
2024 and is based on four main axes and objectives, including 13 priorities
distributed over 47 initiatives for achieving better rates in sustainable
development indicators and combatting corruption.
I think the plan
is a step in the right direction, but I wonder how this strategy will be
implemented and who is the party that will arrest these corrupt people or
agencies, regardless of their social status and positions and insist on
bringing them to justice without interventions and wasta? What will be the role
of the media on this issue, especially social media? I guess people may rush to
voice opinions through social media either to support or reject the
measures.
The chairman of
the Kuwait Transparency Society said that the reasons for Kuwait's progress in
the Corruption Perceptions Index are many, such as the conflict of interest law
and the Cabinet decision to form a committee of 16 bodies to review the
indicators and prepare the necessary measures to amend the country's ranking in
the global Corruption Perceptions Index.
The comparative
analysis of data on democracy in the world reveals a correlation between
corruption and the level of democracy, as the index showed the weakest rate for
authoritarian regimes, which registered only around 30 points in the Corruption
Perceptions Index.
The Corruption
Perceptions Index is related to the extent of corruption in the public sector,
specifically corruption by officials, public servants and politicians. But some
aspects are not measured by the index, like perceptions of citizens or their
experiences with corruption.
I believe that
people's views on the subject of corruption are essential. It is natural that
every country in the world wants to be the first in the fight against
corruption, so it is necessary to place specific measurements to take into
account the experiences of the public and their opinions, and incorporate the
changes they notice to be part of the final assessment of each country.
The executive
director of Transparency International said the international community should
make greater efforts to strengthen democracy and protect the rights of
citizens, especially when corruption seeps into democratic systems and
ultimately weakens them. I believe that the relationship between democracy and
corruption must be studied carefully, because the two must work together to
achieve real success.
Transparency
International called on all governments to make real progress in fighting
corruption and promoting democracy around the world, bridge the gap between the
enactment of legislation on corruption, its implementation on the ground and
its provisions, which will enhance political participation and control public
opinion on government spending. I believe that true success in combating
corruption does not come through good speeches and wishes, but practical
application as an indicator of success.
By Muna Al-Fuzai
