Republic of Mauritius- Good governance remains a topmost priority for Government

The Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance, Mr Dharmendar Sesungkur, made this statement yesterday at a half-day conference organised by the Integrity Reporting Services Agency (IRSA). On this occasion, the Chairperson of the Integrity Reporting Board, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, and key stakeholders from institutions namely the Financial Intelligence Unit, Independent Commission Against Corruption, and the Mauritius Revenue Authority, amongst others were present.

Mauritius, he said, has maintained its number one position in Africa in terms of good governance according to Mo Ibrahim Index and is rated among the best in terms of the perception of corruption Index of Transparency International.  The good performance of the country in the African continent according to the Global Competitiveness and the World Bank was also highlighted by the Minister.

He added that changes will be made in the future to the Good Governance and Integrity Reporting Act with a view to perfecting the process in the light of experience.  The possibility of extending the obligations to report unexplained wealth to other Government departments will also assessed, he said. 

Minister Sesungkur recalled that his Ministry is engaged in dispensing training programmes with the support of the National Committee on Corporate Governance, the Mauritius Institute of Directors and the Financial Services Institute to ensure awareness and effective implementation of laws and policies. He stressed the need to inculcate and inspire the public through proper education and awareness programmes as regards governance adding that one should develop the correct behaviour vis-à-vis greed and corruption.

Speaking of the IRSA, he stated that the entity has embarked on a campaign to enhance the standing of Mauritius as an International Financial Centre of Excellence adding the conference is a good opportunity for the IRSA to take stock of the progress achieved since its inception and to discuss the way forward.

For his part, the Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers said that corruption is a matter of great concern that needs to be addressed both at the national and international level. According to the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International, he recalled, Mauritius is classified as the 56 least corrupt nation out of some 175 countries.

He stated that the Good Governance and Integrity Reporting Act is a drastic measure taken at the international front to address the issue of unexplained wealth. He also underlined the importance of implementing effective anti-corruption measures and legislations which need to be closely monitored by law enforcement agencies.

About the IRSA