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U.S. State Department flags four Caribbean nations for fiscal transparency failures
The U.S. State Department has identified four Caribbean nations—Belize, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Suriname—as failing to meet minimum fiscal transparency standards in its 2026 Fiscal Transparency Report. Of the 139 governments and one entity assessed globally, only 73 met the required standards.
The annual review, mandated by Congress, aims to ensure that U.S. foreign assistance funds are properly monitored. The report highlights specific failures in each identified country. Haiti received the most critical assessment, with findings indicating the government was operating off-budget accounts without oversight or audits, and failing to disclose public procurement contracts.
In Belize, while enacted budgets and debt information were made public, the executive budget proposal was delayed. The Dominican Republic was noted as being closest to compliance, having published its budget documents on time, though its supreme audit institution was flagged for lacking sufficient independence. Suriname was also among the group failing to meet the transparency criteria.
Entities
Belize · Dominican Republic · Haiti · Suriname · U.S. State Department
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Haiti was found to be running off-budget accounts with no oversight or audit. jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · barbadosgazette.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Out of 139 governments and one entity assessed, 73 passed the transparency standards. jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · barbadosgazette.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Dominican Republic published its executive budget, enacted budget, and year-end report on time. jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · barbadosgazette.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Belize failed to publish its executive budget proposal within a reasonable timeframe. jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · barbadosgazette.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The U.S. State Department released its 2026 Fiscal Transparency Report. jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · barbadosgazette.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Belize, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Suriname failed to meet minimum fiscal transparency standards. jamaicainquirer.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com · barbadosgazette.com