Cent Am summit targets corruption

By Will Grant
BBC News

Corruption is endemic across Central America

The presidents of Central American countries have signed a pact at the opening of an anti-corruption summit.

The 12th international anti-corruption conference is being held in Guatemala, historically one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Backed by anti-corruption organisation Transparency International, the summit is due to discuss a range of methods to tackle the problem.

Officials from Africa, Asia and Europe are also at the summit.

Corruption in Central America is a deep-seated problem which will need significant changes in society to eradicate completely.

The Central American leaders have signed an anti-corruption pact which, they hope, will demonstrate their intention to tackle the high levels of institutional corruption in their societies.

Improving images

Critics say the pact is simply a cynical attempt to paint themselves as whiter than white while corruption continues unabated at home.

Guatemala's ex-president Alfonso Portillo faces corruption charges

But even if it is a serious attempt to work together on the issue, the problems are deeply ingrained in Central America and will need more than a well-intentioned agreement to eradicate.

The Guatemalan president, Oscar Berger, is particularly keen to improve his country's image.

Years of endemic corruption were typified by the administration of his predecessor, Alfonso Portillo.

Mr Portillo - who actually came to power on an anti-corruption ticket - is wanted in Guatemala over the embezzlement of tens of millions of dollars of public funds.

Other Central American nations have had similar problems with corruption at the top echelons of government.

However, corruption also means that more than white-collar crimes are often committed with impunity.

Amnesty International believes that of 600 women killed in Guatemala last year, the perpetrators were punished in only two cases - with corruption partly the reason for the low prosecution rates.