Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (25 Oct 2014) - Fiji, Solomon Islands, PNG

-

[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Tony Prescott, Annika Wythes, Isikeli Valemei, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Singh of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project, for sharing these updates.]
Fiji:
Auditor General confirms sighting Cabinet Ministers’ salaries for 2013. The Auditor General Tevita Bolanavanua has confirmed that his office has sighted the details of the cabinet ministers’ salaries in 2013 [but said that] the contract documents detailing the terms and conditions for the salaries of cabinet ministers were not made available for audit. http://fijivillage.com/news/Auditor-General-confirms-sighting-Cabinet-Ministers-salaries-for-2013-ksr952/
Finance scrutiny. Inadequate systems of internal control of cash at bank was highlighted by the Auditor-General Tevita Bolanavanua in the executive summary of the 2013 Audit Report on the Whole of Government Financial Statements. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=283766
Military overspends. The Republic of Fiji Military Forces in 2007 — contrary to policies and procedures in government financial regulations — incurred an over-expenditure amount of $45.5m, the Auditor-General's 2007 Report documented. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=283779
Solomon Islands:
(Commentary) Leaders must serve people. "Leaders must serve the people, which is a responsibility that should be shouldered by any person seeking Parliamentary [post] in the coming election [but] since independence many politicians have put their integrity into doubt as the call to serve the people has turned into self-serving." http://www.solomonstarnews.com/viewpoint/private-view/4570-leaders-must-serve-people
Corruption big task for new government. The new government formed after the November 19 national general election has a big task of weeding out corruption in both the political level and private sector. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/4610-pitabelama-corruption-big-task-for-new-government
Chief wants Attorney General to explain. North Guadalcanal Chief, Benedict Garimane, is calling on the Attorney General to explain whether or not it is legal for former Members of Parliament to continue to have access to state funds. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/4607-chief-wants-attorney-general-to-explain
Papua New Guinea:
MP found guilty of corruption. Papua New Guinea MP Francis Potape has been found guilty of conspiracy and misappropriating over US$100,000 of state money. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/257202/png-mp-found-guilty-of-corruption
Papua New Guinea to set up anti-corruption hotline to tackle police brutality. Prime minister Peter O'Neill said the hotline will be part of a new 20 to 30-person taskforce to strengthen the police force's ability to investigate itself. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-24/papua-new-guinea-to-set-up-anti-corruption-hotline/5837634

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