Anti-corruption, governance training for new public servants

Anti-corruption and governance education will be incorporated into training for all new public servants, an initiative aimed at fostering a culture of integrity throughout the public service, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira said on Tuesday.

Teixeira was speaking at the launch of the Government’s Anti-Corruption Roundtable Ceremony, held at the Pegasus Suites under the theme “Partnering to Build Resilient Public and Private Institutions in Guyana’s Fight Against Corruption.”

She said the administration remains committed to improving transparency and accountability while strengthening collaboration between public and private sectors. Teixeira outlined Guyana’s progress in governance and institutional development since 1992 and underscored the importance of robust oversight systems and legal frameworks that support accountability.

She cited key legislative reforms such as the Procurement Act (2003) and the Audit Act (2004) as part of Guyana’s wider governance framework.

Highlighting the role of digitisation as an anti-corruption tool, Teixeira said the government is modernising systems to improve efficiency and transparency. She pointed to initiatives such as digitising applications for the Public Service Commission and the Single Window Platform for housing and land applications.

“The access to services for the public, equitable access, easy access, and the reduction of long delays, is a critical part of reducing and preventing corruption in government circles,” she said.

Teixeira noted that while digitisation is advancing across ministries, challenges persist at the local government level, but training continues to help public officers transition from paper-based to digital systems.

She also commended the Private Sector Commission and other business bodies for their engagement in governance reform, stressing that ethical practices in the private sector are essential to national progress.

Teixeira cited improvements in accountability, referencing the latest Auditor General’s report, which showed a higher compliance rate and the recovery of overpayments.

“We’re very happy that full recovery of overpayments for three consecutive years, 2022, 2023, and 2024, was achieved, and that is setting a new benchmark for accountability. So, the Auditor General’s report this year, you can now, by data, measure the progress Guyana has made,” she said.

She concluded that the fight against corruption must continue through strong institutions, modern systems, and unified efforts across all sectors.