An Investigative Report on a Regional System That Protects the Powerful

Written by Charlie Spice

Across the Caribbean, corruption has long been an open secret—discussed in rum shops, debated on talk radio, whispered in boardrooms, and dismissed at political rallies with partisan flair. Yet despite decades of public outrage, damning audits, missing millions, mismanaged projects, and endless allegations, Caribbean politicians continue to evade prosecution with remarkable ease.

The question remains: why?

A closer examination reveals a complex ecosystem where weak institutions, partisan loyalty, cultural norms, and economic vulnerabilities form a protective shield that allows political corruption not only to survive—but thrive.

1. Weak Governance Structures and Toothless Oversight Bodies

Most Caribbean nations have integrity commissions, auditor general offices, procurement units, and anti-corruption frameworks on the books. But in practice, these institutions are often undermined by:

• Insufficient funding

• Political interference in appointments

• Limited investigative powers

• Long delays in audits

• Inability to prosecute without referral to politically influenced bodies

In many cases, integrity laws require politicians to declare assets—but do not provide mechanisms to verify them. Ethics bodies report breaches, but lack the legal power to enforce consequences.

A paper tiger can roar—but cannot bite.

2. Politicized Police Forces and Prosecution Services

Law enforcement across the region struggles with limited resources, internal corruption, and political pressure. Prosecutors—often appointed by government leaders—may be hesitant to pursue charges against those who control their budgets, promotions, and careers.

The result: major political corruption cases rarely reach a courtroom, and when they do, they often collapse due to “insufficient evidence,” years of delays, or mysteriously missing documents.

3. Tribal Politics and Blind Party Loyalty

Caribbean politics is intensely tribal. Voters commonly inherit political allegiance from parents and grandparents, turning parties into cultural identities rather than ideological choices.

This allows politicians to weaponize loyalty:

• Supporters dismiss allegations as opposition propaganda

• Parties “circle the wagons” when officials are accused

• Elections reward charisma and loyalty—not accountability

No matter the scandal, leaders often survive because their political base remains unshakeable.

4. A Culture of Patronage and Dependence

In small-island developing states where job markets are tight and the government is the dominant employer, politicians control economic opportunity. Citizens frequently rely on them for:

• Jobs

• Contracts

• Scholarships

• Social benefits

• Personal favors

This creates a clientelistic environment where exposing corruption often means risking livelihood or community standing.

5. Economic Vulnerability and Foreign Influence

Tourism, offshore finance, wealthy investors, and foreign contractors drive much of the region’s economic activity. With multimillion-dollar public projects—roads, buildings, oil exploration, tourism developments—comes vast opportunity for:

• Kickbacks

• Inflated contracts

• Misuse of public funds

Foreign companies often exploit weak oversight, while local officials sign off on deals with little scrutiny.

6. Short Media Attention Spans and Co-opted Journalism

Many Caribbean media houses rely heavily on government advertising to survive. This dependency limits their capacity to investigate powerful politicians without risking financial retaliation.

Investigative journalism is scarce, newsrooms are understaffed, and political pressure is common. Social media eruptions burn hot but briefly before being replaced by the next national distraction.

7. Public Cynicism and the Normalization of Corruption

Perhaps the most dangerous factor is public resignation. Many citizens see corruption as an inevitable part of political life. When expectations of integrity vanish, so does accountability.

As long as people expect corruption—and believe nothing will change—corrupt politicians face few consequences.

Country-by-Country Breakdown of Public Allegations & Documented Scandals (2010–2025)

Below is a factual overview of major scandals and widely reported public accusations across the region.

1. BARBADOS: SCANDALS WITHIN A “CLEAN GOVERNANCE” BRAND

Barbados prides itself on strong institutions, yet several high-profile controversies have highlighted structural weaknesses.

Donville Inniss — Bribery & U.S. Conviction

Former Minister of Industry

• Convicted in the U.S. (2020) for laundering US$36,000 in bribes related to ICBL contracts.

• Barbados faced criticism for its inability to prosecute him locally.

Michael Carrington — Withholding Client Funds

Former Speaker of the House

• Court documents revealed he withheld over $200,000 in client funds for years.

• Though a civil matter, public outrage erupted over ethical implications.

• He remained Speaker, reinforcing claims of political protectionism.

David Thompson — CLICO / Leroy Parris Controversy

Former Prime Minister

• Faced major public criticism for:

  • Close ties to CLICO executive Leroy Parris,

  • His law firm's involvement in CLICO transactions,

  • The government's handling of CLICO’s collapse.

• Public accused him of conflicts of interest; no charges were filed.

Owen Arthur — Campaign Finance Accusations

Former Prime Minister

• Repeatedly accused of:

  • Irregular campaign financing,

  • Accepting a $3.4M political donation,

  • Close links between donors and contract awards.

• Sparked national calls for campaign finance reform.

Mia Mottley — Public Questions Over Procurement

Current Prime Minister (as of 2025)

• No corruption charges exist, but she has faced public scrutiny regarding:

  • Large no-bid contracts,

  • Transparency in debt restructuring,

  • Projects awarded to politically aligned firms,

  • Emergency procurement during COVID-19.

• Critics argue her government practices opaque procurement; supporters insist no misconduct is proven.

2. JAMAICA: A SYSTEM UNDER STRAIN

The “Illicit Enrichment” MPs

Integrity Commission referred multiple MPs for assets vastly exceeding their income, but Jamaican law blocked their names from being published.

Other major scandals

• Petrojam – misuse of funds, nepotism claims.

• Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, Edmond Bartlett, Daryl Vaz – faced public ethics scrutiny (no major convictions).

3. ANTIGUA & BARBUDA: PROCUREMENT AND CIP CONTROVERSIES

Prime Minister Gaston Browne

Accused in 2024–2025 of:

• Unauthorized procurement of hundreds of government vehicles (EC$15M+)

• Weak Cabinet oversight

• Misuse of state assets

Browne acknowledged “systemic corruption” and called for a national reset.

Critics also accuse his administration of mismanaging the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP).

4. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: A HISTORY OF HIGH-LEVEL ALLEGATIONS

Jack Warner — FIFA Bribery Scandal

Former Minister

• Implicated in global FIFA corruption.

• U.S. extradition attempts repeatedly stalled in local courts.

Franklin Khan — Charges Later Dropped

Former Minister

• Once faced bribery charges related to energy-sector dealings.

• Charges withdrawn after protracted delays.

Other scandals

• Petrotrin cost overruns.

• UDeCOTT / Calder Hart procurement irregularities.

5. ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES: LONGSTANDING ACCUSATIONS

Ralph Gonsalves

Prime Minister

• Has faced repeated public allegations concerning:

  • Patronage politics,

  • Misuse of state media,

  • Conflicts of interest in foreign-funded projects.

• Denies all wrongdoing; no charges have ever been filed.

6. GUYANA, GRENADA, THE BAHAMAS & OTHERS

Guyana

• Oil-sector procurement controversies.

• Land allocation accusations against major political figures.

Bahamas

Former PLP and FNM ministers have faced accusations of:

• Bribery,

• Chinese-funded contract irregularities,

• Misuse of office.
  Most cases ended in collapse or acquittal.

Grenada

• Public anger over passport-selling and opaque Chinese-funded projects.

Why They Get Away With It: The Systemic Factors

1. Weak, politicized oversight institutions

2. Blind partisan loyalty

3. Patronage networks and dependency

4. Slow or dysfunctional courts

5. No campaign finance regulations

6. Media capture and intimidation

7. Public resignation and normalized corruption

The Cost of Impunity

• Massive loss of public funds

• Weakening of democracy

• Declining trust in leadership

• Poor public services

• Lower investor confidence

• Rising inequality

Is Reform Possible?

Yes—but only through:

• Independent anti-corruption agencies

• Strong procurement and FOI laws

• Campaign finance reform

• Government digitalization

• Whistleblower protection

• A fearless, independent press

• A shift in political culture

Conclusion

Caribbean corruption scandals are rarely isolated incidents—they reflect deep structural failures that allow political elites to operate with impunity.

In Barbados alone, controversies involving Mia Mottley, Michael Carrington, David Thompson, Owen Arthur, and Donville Inniss demonstrate how both major parties have faced serious public accusations.

Across Jamaica, Antigua, Trinidad, St. Vincent, Guyana, Grenada, and the Bahamas, similar patterns emerge.

Until the region reforms its institutions, laws, and political culture, corruption will continue—not because it is hidden, but because the system is built to protect those accused.