Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates – 18 March 2017: Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji

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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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SOLOMON ISLANDS:
Slow airport audit.  An audit into millions of dollars being disbursed for the construction of the Mana’oba airport in North Malaita has dragged on for a year now due to missing files and records.
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/12465-airport-audit-slow

TONGA:
Arrest for passport forgery.  Two men have and been arrested and charged in relation to forgery over Tongan passport applications.
http://matangitonga.to/2017/03/13/two-men-arrested-passport-forgery
Tonga’s first Ombudsman.  A changeover from a Commissioner for Public relations to an Ombudsman was a “coming of age” for Tonga, the Kingdom's first Ombudsman, Aisea Taumoepeau SC, said at a function to mark the establishment of his office in Nuku‟alofa.
http://matangitonga.to/2017/03/16/aisea-taumoepeau-tonga-s-first-ombudsman

FIJI:
Nepalese State officials on knowledge-sharing trip.  A high level Nepalese government delegation is in Fiji for the week as part of a knowledge sharing and capacity building program on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=393174
Tax and duty evasion remains a challenge for customs agency.  Tax and duty evasion remains a major challenge for the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority.
http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/49101/tax-and-duty-evasion-remains-a-challenge-for-frca#sthash.nzIWcQDJ.dpuf

Thank you to the team at UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project for sharing these updates.  For more information, 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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