Venezuela still listed as 4th most corrupt country in region

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Transparency International has listed Venezuela as the fourth most corrupt country in Latin America. 

Speaking at a seminar entitled, "Power and Corruption: How to Fight it," Transparency representative, Silke Pfeiffer gives Venezuela a 2.8/10 rating, just a bit higher than rivals: Paraguay, Ecuador and Haiti. 

"The rating has not changed much since 1999 when it was 2.6 ... it is impossible to implement national development programs without first attacking the problem of corruption ... the international banks know that." 

British Ambassador John Hughes, Inter American Development Bank (IADB) representative in Venezuela, Roman Mayorga were among those attending the seminar.

Higher Business Studies Institute (IESA) professor Rogelio Perez Perdomo says the government is paying money to support armed groups ready to move into action at any moment ... "these payments are necessarily irregular and if the government is using State funds, then it is embezzlement." Perez Perdomo adds that if business sectors are funding costs, then it's in return for government contracts.