Panama has once again received a very low score when it comes to corruption according to Transparency International which makes this survey available each year. Although I have seen a positive change with this administration in regard to corruption, there is still a lot of it and it will take years to weed out. Most of the corruption is in the Judiciary from my experience and if you cannot get fair treatment with the justice system then you have a very weak platform in which to build a solid country. Panama must strengthen its rule of law and get rid of the corrupt judges, attorneys and their minions who are always there "to help" you get through the system. If Costa Rica can manage to get into the top 25% on this index, then why can't Panama. Maybe the President will attack this very sticky problem next year.
From La Prensa:
José González Pinilla
[email protected]1459691
Panama remains one of the countries with the worst corruption perception index, according to the report released yesterday by Transparency International (TI).
The country received a score of 3.6 on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is considered highly corrupt and 10 countries representing the "clean" of corruption.
While Panama rose two points, compared to the 2009 report, which achieved 3.4-no cause for pride, said Carlos Gasnell, executive vice president of the Foundation for the Development of Civic Freedom, the Panamanian chapter of TI. "We would feel relief if we could score 5" he said.
Of the 178 countries assessed, 75% are below 5, while 25%-including Costa Rica, is above the score.
The country seems to progress in the fight against corruption. At the end of the administration of Mireya Moscoso (2004), Panama received a score of 3.7, while with Martin Torrijos as president in 2005, the rating was 3.5.
The result was dismissed by Secretary of Transparency against Corruption, Fernando Nunez Fabrega, arguing that the report does not reflect the reality of the country.
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