Ministry of Home AffairsCitizen Security Programme

Ministry of Home AffairsCitizen Security Programme

Overview of ipaidabribe.gyOverview of ipaidabribe.gy

Presented by: Floyd Levi – IT Specialist, CSP.

I Paid a Bribe

Background In response to many complaints of public sector corruption which

was driving up the cost of doing business in Guyana and negatively impacting on the social well being of citizens. MoHA implemented a web based anti corruption initiative.

Guyana’s I paid a bribe website (ipaidabribe.gy) is patterned after similar initiatives in countries such as India, Kenya, Greece, Pakistan, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.

The original I paid a bribe concept was developed by the Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy of India which sought to tackle corruption by harnessing the collective energies of citizens.

The Ministry of Home Affairs embraces the philosophy of engaging citizens in the fight against corruption since we believe that by providing such a forum, Guyanese of all walks of life can join the debate on corruption within our society.

(cont’d)

AIM

Heighten citizen awareness about the nature and spread of bribe related activities and promote a public debate that pressures public officials to reduce and eventually eliminate corruption.

Help citizens to recognize, avoid and tackle bribe paying situations.

Identify and analyse the workflows within corruption prone public services, to make suggestions on systemic reform directed at entrenching simpler and more transparent processes, more consistent standards of law enforcement and better vigilance and regulation.

Information Usage

The information placed on the ipaidabribe.gy website is not meant

to name and shame any public official nor is it intended to be

used for criminal prosecution; as such citizens using the site can

do so anonymously.

Information collected on the site will be used to advocate for

improved governance systems and procedures, tighten law

enforcement and regulations and thereby reduce the scope for

corruption in obtaining services from the Government.

Sample Reports

Department:N/A

Transaction:Complaints

Bribe Type:personal

Payment Method:cash

Details:officers doing routine checks on Mandela avenue behind botanical gardens stopped me for a check after finding no faults insisted that I leave money with them for their hard work

After checks found no issue I was asked for moneyReported : July 2, 2013 - 05:16 | Ministry/Agency : Guyana Police Force Paid On : June 30, 2013 | N/A

Sample Reports

Department:RoseHall Outpost

Transaction:Crime Reports

Bribe Type:personal

Payment Method:other

Details: Recently I had my goods stolen..after two weeks of constant enquiry we were able to locate the perpetrators with the stolen articles..had them arrested only to be told that they were all place on station bail without any charges against them..the police have all their confession together with some of the goods and still no proper justice..why are the innocent always the ones to pay...made me think that the guys that took matters in their own hands did something good..when you work diligently to keep your business together and then have those things stolen...it gives you a rude awakening to whats really the reality of how much protected you are as a citizen

Crazy placeReported : May 29, 2013 - 19:09 | Ministry/Agency : Guyana Police Force Paid On : November 30, 1999 | RoseHall OutpostPAID1

Sample Reportsfor work permitReported : May 2, 2013 - 11:09 | Ministry/Agency : Ministry of Home Affairs Paid On : April 17, 2013 | Immigration Support ServicesPAID50000

Department:Immigration Support Services

Office Location:gt

Transaction:Work Permit

Bribe Type:corporate

Payment Method:cash

Details:pay girl at customer support for fast work permit to finish in one week

Sample Reportspayment for work permitReported : May 18, 2013 - 10:30 | Ministry/Agency : Ministry of Home Affairs Paid On : May 8, 2013 | Immigration Support ServicesPAID120000

Department:Immigration Support Services

Office Location:brickdam

Transaction:Work Permit

Bribe Type:corporate

Payment Method:cash

Details: apply at the ministry for work permit the counter staff took me in a room and explain if i want to speed up the process for the brazos i must paid somthing i ending paiding 120 thousand for speeding of 4 work permit

Sample ReportsGRA BribeReported : May 17, 2013 - 19:07 | Ministry/Agency : Guyana Revenue Authority Paid On : January 8, 2013 | Excise Licencing and Motor Vehicle RegistrationPAID18000

Department:Excise Licencing and Motor Vehicle Registration

Office Location:Georgetown

Transaction:Vehicle Registration

Bribe Type:personal

Payment Method:cash

Details:*******

Sample Reportsbribe paid at GROReported : May 29, 2013 - 10:05 | Ministry/Agency : General Register Office Paid On : January 1, 2013 | N/APAID10000

Department:N/A

Office Location:GRO gt

Transaction:Birth Certificates

Bribe Type:personal

Payment Method:cash

Details:

I paid ten thousand dollars at GRO in order to get a new certificate of birth all because I have lost mine.

Sample ReportsGPL scuntReported : June 6, 2013 - 12:18 | Ministry/Agency : Guyana Power and Light Incorporated Paid On : January 30, 2013 | N/APAID5000

Department:N/A

Transaction:Reconnection of Electricity

Bribe Type:personal

Payment Method:cash

Details:

i went 3 days without electricity and after the emergency crew came to fix it they said they wanted me "left" something with them....as soon as the money touch the man hand, he give the thumbs up *Jesus said let there be light*

Sample ReportsCheddi Jaan International Airport. Red cap attendant demands extra fees.Reported : May 19, 2013 - 08:25 | Ministry/Agency : Ministry of Public Works Paid On : April 5, 2013 | Office of the PresidentPAID2000

Department: Office of the President

Office Location: Cheddi Jagan In

Transaction: Payments

Bribe Type: personal

Payment Method: cash

Details: I was returning to Toronto on April 5,2013 around 3.30 am with my spouse ,my son and my mother who was in a wheel chair. We had 7 pieces of Luggage.The red cap guy demanded I pay him $3000.00 otherwise I will be in serious problem.I look at the fee chart it it clearly states it was $100.00 per luggage which I pointed out to him but he insisted that that was wrong and he can make me loose my flight. I comply because our journey was a long one and we were already exhausted and did not want to miss our flights as threatened. I can point out the individual if I see him again.This non sense needs to be stop. On my next return I can point out the individual to the airport authorities. I hope the Govt weed out these corrupt individuals.Thanks for this *******

Summary of IPAB Reports ReceivedI Paid A Bribe Summary of Reports to for the period May 2013 to Sept 2013

Agency Total1. Airport (Red Cap) 12. Airport Security 13. CANU (Airport) 14. CANU (Brazil Border) 15. Complaints 66. GPF (Driving License) 27. GPF (CID) 28. GPF (Traffic) 219. GPL 2

10. GRA (Licenses & Permits) 1

11. GRA (MV Registration) 1

12. GRA Compliance 1

13. GRO 1

14. Home Affairs (Firearm License) 1

15. Home Affairs (Work Permits) 5

16. National Accredation Council 1

17. T&HD 2

18. Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce 1Total 51

THANK YOU