[ap-intact] INFO: Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (23 May 2015) – Samoa, Fiji, Solomon Islands, PNG

-
[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Annika Wythes, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Singh of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project for sharing these updates.]

Samoa: Memo to tackle ‘fraud, corruption’.The Office of the Attorney General and the Samoa Audit Office have entered a Memorandum of Understanding to tackle fraudulent activities and corruption. http://www.samoaobserver.ws/home/headlines/13630-memo-to-tackle-fraud-corruption

Fiji: FICAC investigating Fiji Corrections Service. Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has today confirmed that some operational matters in the Fiji Corrections Service are currently under investigation. http://fijivillage.com/news/FICAC-investigating-Fiji-Corrections-Service---AG-r59ks2/

Fiji: Probe on officials. A number of officials at the Ministry of Health in Lautoka are being investigated by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=306448
Fiji: Call for limits on mining extraction. A Fiji opposition MP says a law should be put in place to limit the amount of bauxite that can be shipped out of the country. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/274086/call-for-limits-on-mining-extraction-in-fiji

Fiji: Opposition question AGs role in committee. The opposition in Fiji don't think the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum should be part of a committee which is deliberating over a complaint that he raised. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/274102/fiji-opposition-question-ags-role-in-committee

Solomon Islands: OAG is up to standard, says Cohen. Acting Auditor General has dismissed an Island Sun front page story yesterday that claimed the Office of the Auditor General is not up to standard. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/6979-oag-is-up-to-standard-says-cohen

Solomon Islands: TSI legal team to visit Gizo. A team from the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) under Transparency Solomon Islands will be visiting Gizo in Western Province next week. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/6980-tsi-legal-team-to-visit-gizo
 
Solomon Islands: Induction program will make MPs becomes better. Prime Minister (PM) Manasseh Sogavare has reiterated during the opening of the Members of Parliament’s (MP) induction program that MPs will become better in their performance after going through series of their induction session. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/6993-pm-induction-program-will-make-mps-becomes-better

PNG: Court refuses MPs request for review. Papua New Guinea's National Court has refused a government minister's request for a review of the Ombudsman Commission's decision to refer him to the Public Prosecutor. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/274307/png-court-refuses-mps-request-for-review

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