Timor-Leste makes significant gains in Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perception Index
Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Dili, January 31th, 2017
Timor-Leste makes significant gains in Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perception Index
The 2016 Corruption Perception Index, published by Transparency International on the 25th of January 2017, has shown a significant improvement for Timor-Leste, with a 22-place leap in the rankings from 123 to 101 of the 176 countries assessed. Timor-Leste’s score improved from 28 to 35.
Transparency International says the annual index is “a composite indicator used to measure perceptions of corruption in the public sector in different countries around the world” and in an analysis of the Asia Pacific Region, Transparency International’s Kate Hanlon highlighted Timor-Leste’s improved score. Because of a change in the methodology of the index only scores from 2012 to 2016 are comparable. Timor-Leste’s score in this 2016 edition is the highest it has been given since 2012.
The Sixth Constitutional Government supports good governance by building a culture of accountability and openness that minimizes corruption. It has continued to support the Anti-Corruption Commission, providing the resources that it requires to undertake its important mandate. In the last three years the capacity of the judicial sector has been strengthened and the capabilities of the police increased. Awareness campaigns have been conducted to explain what corruption is and the consequences of corrupt behaviour. Specific measures such as the establishment of the Police Scientific Criminal Investigation Unit and the implementation of forward-looking Customs Reform, including the adoption of the Arusha Declaration, are promoting integrity and increasing the likelihood of detection and prosecution.
Spokesperson, Minister of State Agio Pereira, noted “the Government welcomes the improvement in perception registered by this latest edition of the Index and particularly the upward trend in the ranking from 133 in 2014, to 123 in 2015 and now 101 in this 2016 edition. This trend will have a positive impact on the confidence of investors, business partners and tourists and reflects a positive view of the Government’s continuing efforts to strengthen our institutions and promote good governance.”ENDS
