The Tribune

A GLOBAL index measuring perceived corruption in the public sector has ranked The Bahamas favourably in its top 25.

The country earned a 7.3 in the 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index - three spots above the United States on an eleven-point scale compiled by Transparency International.

The non-governmental organisation tracks corporate and political corruption internationally through independent "charter" organisations in more than 100 countries.

A score of zero indicates high levels of corruption and ten is the lowest.

"Each year, we score countries on how corrupt their public sectors are seen to be," according to its website.

"Our Corruption Perceptions Index sends a powerful message and governments have been forced to take notice and act.

"It is a composite index, drawing on corruption-related data from expert and business surveys carried out by a variety of independent and reputable institutions," it added.

The index has been considered as the world's most credible measure of domestic, public sector corruption, according to a report in the UK's Guardian newspaper, which indicated that the annual assessment is closely watched by investors.

Other countries making their debut in the 2011 index are St Lucia, ranked 25 with a score of seven; St Vincent and the Grenadines, ranked 36 with a score of 5.8; Suriname, ranked 100 with a score of three; and North Korea, which shares a last place score of one with Somalia.