Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates – 27 Jan 2017: PNG, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Regional

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These updates are provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Anti-Corruption Project for Southeast Asia, and the joint UNODC - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, with support of the Australian Government.
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PNG:
PNG improves on global corruption index.  Papua New Guinea has improved its standing in the latest Transparency International Corruption Index.  http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/323102/png-improves-on-global-corruption-index
VANUATU:
Leadership Code Breached.  A public report by the Office of the Ombudsman, Kalkot Mataskelekele has recommended that Member of Parliament for Tanna Constituency Bob Loughman, be prosecuted for breaching the Leadership Code.  http://dailypost.vu/news/leadership-code-breached/article_78542236-98b1-5bdc-9b82-e444c640f6d6.html
Gov't vehicle fleet management.  The Office of the Public Service Commission (OPSC) is taking a proactive and progressive approach to protect Government vehicles from misuse, coupled with saving the Vanuatu Government hundreds of millions of Vatu over the next five years with the implementation of several actions endorsed by the Council of Ministers (COM).
http://dailypost.vu/news/government-vehicle-fleet-management/article_6f5b8666-6d4c-5740-8b3e-9db22c173e25.html
SOLOMON ISLANDS:
Sikua seeks bail variations.  An application for bail variations will be made in court tomorrow for the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services Edmond Sikua who is facing charges of official corruption.  http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/12067-sikua-seeks-bail-variations
Lavulavu files legal complaints against Auditor General's Office.  The Director and Founder of the 'Unuaki 'o Tonga Royal Institute (UTRI), Etuate Lavulavu has filed legal complaints to Police and Tonga's Ombudsman Commission against the Auditor General's report on Tonga's Technical and Vocational Program or TVET.  http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net/?p=5211
SAMOA:
Bank employee jailed for theft.  A 38-year old former supervisor of the Samoa Commercial Bank, Rosalina Metala Ioka, has been serving a three-year jail sentence after she had admitted stealing $US60, 000 from the bank's vault last July.  http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/322902/samoa-bank-employee-jailed-for-theft
REGIONAL:
Ensuring the long-term sustainability of South Pacific regional fisheries.  Approximately 150 international delegates met in Adelaide, Australia for the fifth Commission Meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation.  http://www.worldfishing.net/news101/industry-news/Ensuring-the-long-term-sustainability
For more information about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, please contact:
Maria Adomeit, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, maria.adomeit@unodc.org
Mihaela Stojkoska, Anti-Corruption Specialist - Pacific, UNDP, mihaela.stojkoska@undp.org
Luisa Senibulu, Governance Programme Associate, UNDP/UNODC, luisa.senibulu@undp.org
Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

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