Overall Coordinator and Editor-in-Chief of the Human Rights Reports worldwide at the US State Department, Stephen Eisenbraun has responded to a matter amidst concerns by the St. Lucian Government on a report referring to alleged corruption in the Stephenson King Administration.

King said in a statement last week that his concerns come as such reports which are not thorough and scientific in the Government’s opinion would be posted on the website of the US State Department. The report, issued on March 11, 2010 can be viewed at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/wha/136125.htm.

King questioned the methods used to compile the report.

When contacted by St. Lucia News Online’s Correspondent Eisenbraun refrained from making statements on the record, nonetheless he clarified the manner in which information in the report was compiled.

He said the US Embassies are responsible for gathering data for such reports.

In St. Lucia’s case, the US embassy located in Bridgetown, Barbados is responsible for gathering information about the island, and the Caribbean region.

“So the embassies travel to the various countries or areas around the country, if its within a single country… they talk with a variety of contacts, in the press, in legal circles in the Government itself, and they also take information from the serious and major NGO’s [Non Governmental Organizations],” Eisenbraun explained.

The controversy began when the St. Lucia Labour Party in one of their weekly press releases indicated that numerous accounts of Government corruption occurred during the year, as cited by the US Report.

The SLP highlighted certain areas in the report regarding Government’s alleged corruption, including the Mondesir Affair, the Richard Frederick Matter and the controversial Customs Comptroller Transfer.

However, King described it as an act of desperation and a move by the SLP to mislead the community.

According to the report, “observers expressed concern that the country was moving backwards in terms of transparency and accountability … that some foreign assistance programs go through the specific offices of Parliamentarians, providing the opportunity for graft.”

Meantime, Eisenbraun confirmed that media reports are also utilized in compiling the reports, but added that those reports should not be taken at “face-value”.

The Government has said it would write to the US government to express its concern and to provide advice on the methodology used for the compilation of future reports of this nature.

For the past 34 years, the US State Department has been compiling Human Rights Reports worldwide.

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