Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates - Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, PNG, Solomon Islands, Samoa (18 July 2014)

-
[Facilitator's note: With thanks to Tony Prescott, Annika Wythes, Isikeli Valemei, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Sing of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project for sharing these updates.]

Accusations of corruption after Mariana Islands announce casino deal. Legislators in the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands have been accused of corruption following the awarding of a controversial casino licence in Saipan.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2014-07-17/accusations-of-corruption-after-mariana-islands-announce-casino-deal/1344147


Cook Islands: Biggest Upset of Elections Marred By Bribery Allegations. Jubilation over Rose Toki Brown’s victory over political veteran Norman George has quickly faded as allegations of bribery and treating begin to fly in the Atiuan constituency of Teenui-Mapumai.
http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2014/July/07-16-09.htm
 
PNG: Director of Corruption Task Force: Won’t Be Intimidated. The director of Papua New Guinea's anti-corruption unit, Task Force Sweep, says no amount of intimidation will stop him from doing his job.
http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2014/July/07-16-10.htm
 
PNG: Paraka saga claims another legal scalp. The lawyer representing Papua New Guinea's police commissioner, Geoffrey Vaki, has been arrested and charged by members of the National Fraud Squad.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/249890/paraka-saga-claims-another-legal-scalp
 
Solomon Islands: Government sued: Ousted AG challenges sacking in High Court. Sacked Auditor General (AG) Edward Ronia is challenging his termination from the office by filing a case in the High Court.
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/2881-government-sued-ousted-ag-challenges-sacking-in-high-court
 
Solomon Islands: Former officer calls for investigation into police actions. A former top police investigator has called on relevant authorities to investigate police officers who have involved in handling the case of the Mbokona murder.
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/2893-former-officer-calls-for-investigation-into-police-actions
 
Samoa's suspended police given options. A commission of inquiry in Samoa is giving top police officers options to resign or respond to allegations and proceed with the inquiry.
http://www.samoanews.com/content/en/samoas-suspended-police-given-options

Popular posts from this blog

Middle East & North Africa - Ukraine - Sri Lanka

-
Corruption fuels ongoing conflict. The Middle East and North Africa has been in a decline on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for years. The region is also ranked as the "least peaceful region" according to the Global Peace Index. Transparency International (TI) argues that corruption, conflict, and security are profoundly intertwined. TI: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2022-middle-east-north-africa-corruption-fuels-ongoing-conflict   [Opinion] Ukraine's corruption purge is setting the stage for private investment-driven recovery. Corruption is regarded as a key threat to the Ukrainian economy, depriving public budgets and discouraging foreign direct investments (FDI). The current administration has taken strong anti-corruption action, and the country has witnessed a significant increase in FDI in recent years, says author. DevDiscourse: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/business/2353089-ukraines-corruption-purge-setting-stage-...
Read more

The Pacific - Nepal - Eastern Europe & Central Asia

-
[Blog] How are perceptions of corruption in seven small Pacific countries? Larger Pacific Island neighbors are often garnering the lion's share of attention both from researchers and policy makers. How are the experiences of corruption in countries like Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), The Cook Islands, Palau, and Nauru? DevPolicy Blog: https://devpolicy.org/perceptions-of-corruption-in-seven-small-pacific-island-countries-20230223/   [Opinion] Two decades of new anti-corruption law in Nepal: Why it missed its mark. According to a Nepalese journalist, the Anti-Corruption law and Prevention of Corruption act of 2002 laid the foundation for numerous investigations, scandals, and court cases. To a large extent, they did however fail to enable significant conviction and return of assets. Online Khabar: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/anti-corruption-law-missing-target.html   [Blog] Growing security risks and authorit...
Read more

Global - Sub-Saharan Africa - Turkey & Syria

-
Invisible Trillions review: Global capitalism operates beyond the rule of law and threatens democracy. Raymond W. Baker's new book "Invisible Trillions" argues that "secrecy has become as important for corporations as transparent and taxable profits used to be". "Only radical improvements across the globe in financial transparency and accountability, and in regulatory capacity and integrity, can break this cycle of political decay and despair". The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/invisible-trillions-review-global-capitalism-operates-beyond-the-rule-of-law-and-threatens-democracy-199311   [Blog] The dynamics of violent extremism in sub-Saharan Africa. There is no better environment for the expansion of violent extremist groups than a vacuum in state authority. These groups begin to compete with the state and may even be initially attractive to communities weary of years of lawlessness, corruption, and chaos according to autho...
Read more