Despite several advancements to tackle corruption, Jamaica’s efforts were not enough to overcome the country’s shortfalls.

That’s according to Executive Director of the National Integrity Action (NIA) Professor Trevor Munroe.

Professor Munroe was reacting to Jamaica’s fall in the 2021 Corruption Perception Index.

Jamaica fell one place in the Transparency International listing.

The country moved from 69 to 70 of 180 countries.

The ranking, which was released this morning (January 25), saw Jamaica maintaining its 2020 score of 44 out of 100.

The index uses a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the least corrupt and 0 being the most corrupt.

Speaking at a press briefing this morning, the NIA Director said Jamaica’s score and rank reflect hard-won gains but also deeply disappointing deficits in the country’s combating of corruption.

He said there were important steps towards greater accountability from members of public boards and bodies.

Professor Munroe noted that there remains, however, serious deficits and shortfalls in the system.

The lack of accountability from public bodies is a major issue.