Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (21 May 2016)

-
Get AP-INTACT posts on Twitter (https://twitter.com/apintactnetwork)
From the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, a joint four-year initiative of the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with support from the Australian Government. Updates shared by Annika Wythes, Luisa Senibulu, Samita Singh, and Mihaela Stojkoska.
If a link below does not work, please copy and paste the link into your browser’s address bar instead.
Solomon Islands:
MPs could keep tax free salaries.  Solomon Island MPs may yet keep their tax free salaries if an appeal against a court ruling declaring them illegal is successful.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/304131/solomons-mps-could-keep-tax-free-salaries

PM urged to press on with anti-corruption bill.  Civil society organisations in Solomon Islands are urging the prime minister to push on with legislation aimed at setting up the country's first Independent Commission Against Corruption.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/303971/solomons-pm-urged-to-press-on-with-anti-corruption-bill

Chancellor speaks on corruption.  Corruption is rife in our very own society, education institutions, public and government organisations, almost in every works of life here in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/10268-chancellor-speaks-on-corruption
PNG:

Health Sector Unions Support Student Protests.  An air of uncertainty has descended on the national capital with the health sector unions becoming the latest group to throw their support behind protesting students at the various State-funded universities.

http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2016/May/05-19-02.htm

MP says police commissioner should resign.  The Papua New Guinea opposition MP Belden Namah says Police Commissioner Gari Baki should resign.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/304184/mp-says-png-police-commissioner-should-resign

Namah calls for removal of PM.  The Papua New Guinea opposition MP who launched the successful challenge to the Manus Island asylum seeker detention centre has called for the removal of the prime minister Peter O'Neill

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/303980/namah-calls-for-png-to-remove-pm

Government issues stern warning over student protests.  Papua New Guinea's Chief Secretary to the Government alleges that the people behind the current university protests are not students but agitators with sinister purposes.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/304128/png-govt-issues-stern-warning-over-student-protests

UPNG students condemn police presence on campus.  Students at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) have dismissed allegations in local media that their protests are driven by a minority group.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/304185/upng-students-condemn-police-presence-on-campus
Vanuatu:

Discussions on how to improve governance.  The Vanuatu government has begun discussing how it might strengthen governance in the country.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/304107/vanuatu-discusses-how-to-improve-governance
For more information about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC), please get in touch with:

Annika Wythes, Anti-Corruption Adviser - Pacific, UNODC, annika.wythes@unodc.org

Luisa Senibulu, Governance Programme Associate, UNDP/UNODC, luisa.senibulu@undp.org

Samita Singh, Programme Assistant - Anti-Corruption, UNDP/UNODC, samita.singh@undp.org

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