Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – Parliamentarians from eight Caribbean countries joined forces today to launch GOPAC Caribbean, a regional chapter of the international anti- corruption network the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) at the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.

Parliamentarians from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago participated in the event.

“Success in the fight against corruption requires collaboration and strong partnerships between nations,” said Mary King, Secretary of GOAPC’s Board of Directors. “The parliamentarians gathered here today are forging those partnerships and building the foundation essential to improving good governance and the rule of law in the Caribbean and around the world.”

The launch was part of the Anti-Corruption Conference of Caribbean Parliamentarians which included workshops on anti-money laundering and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. At the conclusion of the conference, the GOPAC Caribbean members unanimously approved a Declaration committing to holding governments to account, promoting ethical conduct, developing legal anti-corruption framework domestically and working with civil society to fight corruption.

“As an international leader in anti-corruption, GOPAC looks forward to supporting the committed parliamentarians of GOPAC Caribbean as they equip their countries against corruption,” concluded Ms King.

GOPAC and the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago hosted the conference with the support of the British High Commission and the Canadian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago.

GOPAC is a worldwide alliance of parliamentarians working together to combat corruption, strengthen good government, and uphold the rule of law. Based in Ottawa, Canada, GOPAC has 49 national chapters on 5 continents. GOPAC supports its members’ efforts through original research, global anti-corruption capacity building, and international peer support. Visit GOPAC on the web at gopacnetwork.org, on Twitter at twitter.com/GOPAC_Eng, and on Facebook at facebook.com/gopacnetwork