First annual Anti-Corruption Day Celebrated in Belize

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

International Anti-Corruption Day was celebrated globally today.  Across the world, corruption undermines democratic institutions, impedes economic development and remains a key factor in social decay. While Belize is a member of the U.N., it is yet to become a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Corruption.  As it stands, Belize has been excluded from the annual Corruption Perception Index, a list which is compiled by Transparency International.  But that’s not stopping one political party from demanding that Belize signs on to the agreement.  This morning, Vision Inspired by the People held a press conference in honor of the day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the convention in combating and preventing it.  Guest speaker was attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Guest Speaker

“I call on all Belizeans on this very important day not to focus on anti-corruption only today, but for the rest of your lives.  It will make a difference between having enough to educate all our children, having enough healthcare services, having enough for everyone to live comfortably and most of all having a piece of mind and integrity and moral responsibility restored to our society. A simple thing as our government agreeing, before the year is out, to sign the convention.  The United Nation’s Convention Against Corruption would be a start but most importantly I call on Belizeans wherever you are, change your attitude towards these favors that you ask for.  Change your attitude towards how you ask people to be accountable and transparent.  The change can only really start within because no matter what laws we pass, if people are not prepared to change the way they see things it will not happen.  Another more recent thing that happened that people do not even want to accept is corruption is there has been an outright move by government past and present to infiltrate civil society and unions to break them down.  I call on the leaders of both civil society, all the NGOs and the unions, do not give in.”