Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates 13 May 2017: PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands

-
Get AP-INTACT posts on Twitter (https://twitter.com/apintactnetwork)

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.

If a link below does not work, please copy and paste the link into your browser’s address bar instead.

PNG:
Anti-corruption commission still not off the ground.  The man appointed to head Papua New Guinea's new corruption-fighting body is wondering why he hasn't been allowed to start work.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/pacific-beat/2017-05-09/png-anti-corruption-commission-still-not-off-the/8511254

FIJI:
Court jails former PWD workers.  Seven former employees of the then Public Works Department were imprisoned with sentences ranging from four years to 10 years.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=400017
Former Suva High Court staff pleads guilty.  A former Suva High Court staff facing corruption related charges has pleaded guilty.
http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/50648/former-suva-high-court-staff-pleads-guilty

SOLOMON ISLANDS:
Sikua set to appear in court next week on corruption accusations.  Suspended Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Edmund Sikua will take his plea at his next Court appearance Monday next week.
http://www.sibconline.com.sb/sikua-set-to-appear-in-court-next-week-on-corruption-accusations/
FFA, SPC Pacific workshop sharpens focus on Vietnamese Blue Boats.  onitoring, Control and Surveillance for Pacific tuna fisheries provides a useful existing framework to help Pacific countries to address the newest threat for Pacific reef systems, Vietnamese Blue Boats.
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/12808-ffa-spc-pacific-workshop-sharpens-focus-on-vietnamese-blue-boats

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

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