[ap-intact] INFO: Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (20 Nov 2015) - Vanuatu, PNG, Fiji

-

[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Annika Wythes, Luisa Senibulu, Samita Singh, and Mihaela Stojkoska of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project for sharing these updates.]
Vanuatu:
Vanuatu Conspiracy Inquiry Put Back Two Weeks.
The preliminary inquiry into conspiracy charges against 11 Vanuatu MPs has been adjourned until 27th November by the Port Vila Magistrates Court. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/November/11-16-15.htm

PNG:
Call for a Whistleblower policy. The Papua New Guinea Government has been urged to establish a whistleblower policy to ensure people responsible for delivering government services are held accountable. http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=918049437564bc2d75f2fc3f7f1a39
Finance Minister’s stay application refused. An application by Papua New Guinea Finance Minister James Marape to disqualify two of the three judges on a three-man Supreme Court bench presiding over his stay application has been refused. http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=924514564a406ae2cc252d32bf29bb
Papua New Guinea bans foreign advisers working within government departments. Papua New Guinea has passed regulations banning foreign advisers, who are mainly Australian, from working for government departments. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-16/png-bans-foreign-government-advisers/6944554?section=world

Fiji:
Ex-FIRCA officer on bribery. A hearing date has been set for a former senior Customs officer charged with bribery related offences. Rajit Sen’s hearing will be on the 9th of May next year. http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/34888/ex-firca-officer-on-bribery#sthash.r8kz1eSA.dpuf
Delegated power used wrongly, says Fiji's Naidu. Suva lawyer Richard Naidu says it is clear the Fiji government had no intention of consulting the opposition on some key state appointments. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/289851/delegated-power-used-wrongly,-says-fiji's-naidu
No nepotism, says Seruiratu. The government yesterday gave an answer to the Opposition's accusations of nepotism within the civil service and statutory organisation. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=330218

Popular posts from this blog

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 authoritarian
Read more

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

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