Corruption: Canada backs firm banned by World Bank

by Marty Logan, Inter Press Service (Johannesburg), July 30, 2004.

It is business as usual between Canadian government agencies and a local company barred from World Bank contracts after being convicted of bribery in Africa.

In September 2002, engineering firm Acres International was found guilty in the High Court in the southern African nation of Lesotho for trying to bribe the official responsible for the multi-billion-dollar World Bank-financed Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).

Acres, based in Oakville in the province of Ontario, appealed and last year had one charge dropped. But the conviction was maintained on the second count and the firm was fined the equivalent of two million U.S. dollars.

Questioning the value of the World Bank: Can it change?

Belgium clears path to developing world prosperity

David Hillman
Monday July 5, 2004
The Guardian

Tony Blair calls Africa a scar on the conscience of the world. Gordon Brown has a means for healing that scar through a doubling of aid. The chancellor says his international financing facility (IFF) is the only game in town, but so far the teams are still stuck in the dressing room.

National Post  

Martin's problem: Corruption at home and abroad

Amandla! Awethu! Africans Fight Corporate Greed

Export Agency Must Stiffen Bribery Sanctions - Report (IPS)
by Mark Bourrie

OTTAWA, Dec 16 (IPS) - The Canadian agency that underwrites large-scale export projects must adopt tougher rules against bribery by client companies, says a report by a trade union anti-corruption group affiliated with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

U.S., Allies Set Environment Pact; Boon Is Seen to Overseas Business

By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS

Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Africa: The struggle against privatization

by Paul Beaulieu

Rights award calls attention to the plight of abducted -There are more than 40,000 'disappeared' in more than 50 countries, the UN reports

By MARINA JIMENEZ