Human rights campaigners have criticized the Extractive Industries Transparency Initia- tive (EITI) for delisting Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe. Sixteen of the 17 countries that applied in 2008 to join the voluntary scheme, which aims to curb corruption and improve oil-sec- tor transparency, have been given more time to complete the so-called validation process after failing to meet last month’s deadline. Validation involves an external assessment of progress on opening the books on oil, gas and mining payments. Under the initiative’s rules, candidates have two years to complete the process (IOD Mar.11,p4).
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