The World Bank now has 50 corruption investigators who have investigated 1,700 suspected cases of irregularities in World Bank projects since the department was set up in 2001. The names of 330 companies and people have been banned from receiving new contracts and their names have been published on the World Bank Web site.
Smitu Kothari of the group Lokayan, which is fighting for democracy and equality in India, has been critical of the World Bank's anti-corruption campaign. He says the anti-corruption campaign is a new attempt to interfere in a country's affairs. The World Bank cannot act as a global policeman, he said, speaking in Washington.
Nevertheless, during the World Bank/IMF meeting Wolfowitz said he felt emboldened to continue the course.
"There is strong consensus among all shareholders that this is a problem that we need to address -- it's a problem for the poor people who are our biggest concern and it's a problem for the taxpayers of developed countries that help to pay our bills," he said.
RSS