WASHINGTON, DC – The Bahamas was one of several democratic nations in the Western Hemisphere to participate in the 19th Regular Meeting of MESICIC (the follow up mechanism for the implementation of The Inter American Convention Against Corruption).
The Bahamas has been a State Party to the Inter-American Convention against Corruption since signing in 1998 and ratification in March of 2000, and a party to the MESICIC since June 2001. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Attorney General Franklyn Williams represents The Bahamas on the MESICIC Committee of Experts, and attended the meeting, held in Washington, DC, from Sept 12 – 16.
The MESICIC utilises a system of peer review, conducted in rounds. There have been three previous rounds, during which The Bahamas – along with other States Party – was assessed on steps taken to implement the obligations of the Convention. At the end of every round, country reports are made by the Technical Secretariat of The MESICIC of the progress of the member states. The reports also contain suggestions/ recommendations for the further/complete implementation of the provisions of the Convention.
“The primary focus of the 19 Regular meeting was to receive consent from member States ahead of the Fourth Round, which is for the purpose of onsite country visits,” Mr. Williams explained. “These visits are to begin immediately following the close of the 19th Regular meeting. The onsite country visit of The Bahamas is to be conducted at the end of 2012.”
“The Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas has given its consent for and looks forward to the same. The Bahamas Government has accomplished much in the fight against corruption and looks forward to the involvement of civil society in this regard.”
Background
In 1996, the OAS Member States adopted the first international anti-corruption legal instrument, and in 2002, they instituted the mechanism which evaluates its fulfilment. Since that time, the Inter-American Convention against Corruption and the Follow-Up Mechanism for its Implementation (MESICIC), have represented the principal cooperation instruments for preventing, detecting, punishing and eradicating corruption in the Americas.
By Press Attache
Embassy of The Bahamas
