The Organization of American States' head told companies in the region that they must join the fight against government corruption, to become "part of the solution" instead of part of the problem.
Speaking at an anti-corruption conference in Cali, southwest Colombia, Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said that businesses must implement measures to prevent their employees from bribing government officials in exchange for public contracts.
He told the 300 delegates from 12 countries that corruption and impunity are "the best allies that organized crime has today," and that organized crime in turn raises the risk of corruption.
Limits on campaign spending, and more electoral transparency, would also help cut the problem of government corruption, according to the OAS head.
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