Prime Minister Gaston Browne has publicly conceded that his administration’s anti-corruption initiatives disproportionately targeted Cabinet ministers, while systemic corruption persisted unchecked within the civil service. During an episode of his *Browne and Browne Show*, Browne highlighted that excessive focus on politicians allowed entrenched civil servants to engage in long-standing abuses and collusion with private entities. He revealed that key departments, including the Treasury, Customs, and Public Works, had been effectively “captured” by influential business operators who manipulated public officers to bypass regulations and secure unfair advantages. Browne cited instances where large businesses received preferential treatment, while smaller suppliers faced delays in payments. He acknowledged that existing laws and safeguards were being circumvented by insiders exploiting oversight weaknesses. To address these issues, Browne outlined a series of reforms, including centralizing financial control, rotating staff in critical positions, and allocating $1 million in the upcoming budget to hire private citizens as validation officers for random spot checks on imported goods and Customs transactions. These measures aim to disrupt entrenched relationships and restore public trust in government operations. Browne framed these efforts as part of a broader “national reset” to rebuild integrity and transparency following recent controversies.
PM Browne Admits Anti-Corruption Efforts Focused Too Much on Politicians, Not Civil Servants
