[ap-intact] INFO: Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (26 Sept 2015) - Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, PNG, Solomons

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[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.]
Fiji:
$218m fund.Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has clarified that the expenditures of Head 50 of the Government's Budget is a contingency fund for all Government departments. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=322855
Call for wider consultation on mine. The Bua Urban Youth Network has called for wider consultations for the proposed bauxite mine in Wainunu, Bua. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=322333
The $100m question. Seventeendays after the Ministry of Finance was to respond to the Public Accounts Committee on the use of $100million, there is still no response from the Finance Ministry. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=322058
11 former PWD workers in court on graft charges. Former Public Works Department workers who were charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for abuse of office, causing a loss and obtaining financial advantage appeared at the High Court in Suva for a pre-trial conference. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=323005
Samoa:
Ombudsman Receives Complaint Against Commissioner. The Office of the Ombudsman has confirmed that it has received a letter of complaint from a police officer over the conduct of the Commissioner of Police, Egon Keil. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/September/09-22-13.htm
Vanuatu:
Former PM denies interference claim. Vanuatu MP Joe Natuman denies that he interferred in the judicial process around a police mutiny case. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/284809/former-vanuatu-pm-denies-interference-claim
PNG:
PM Backtracks On No Outside Consultant Pledge. Papua New Guinea's prime minister has signaled a partial back-down from recent comments that Australian consultants and advisers would be expelled from PNG by the end of the year. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/September/09-22-19.htm
Solomons:
Bauxite Miner Ordered Out of Renbel Province.
Renbel premier Collin Singamoana has ordered Asia Pacific Investment Development (APID) to get out of Renbel Province. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/

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