Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (3 Feb 2018): Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga

-
Get AP-INTACT posts on Twitter (https://twitter.com/apintactnetwork) and Blogger (http://newsbin-apintact.blogspot.com/)

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.

FIJI:

Customs recognition.  "Customs can contribute to the increased security of the business environment by focusing on activities that promote an enabling, safe, and fair and sustainable environment including by streamlining procedures, tackling corruption, enhancing integrity, and facilitating the movement of people, goods and craft."

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=432771

High Court Grants FICAC Time.  The Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) was given until 29 January 2018 to respond to a strike out application filed by counsel for former Fiji National University Vice-Chancellor Ganesh Chand, who is charged with one count of abuse of office.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/01/23/high-court-grants-ficac-time/

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

Transparency International PNG Celebrates 21 Years.  The Papua New Guinea Chapter of Transparency International began its operations on 29 January 1997.

http://www.emtv.com.pg/transparency-international-png-celebrates-21-years/

World Report 2018 - Papua New Guinea: Events of 2017.  "Individuals in positions of power and government agencies lack accountability and transparency."

https://reliefweb.int/report/papua-new-guinea/world-report-2018-papua-new-guinea-events-2017

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Secret Funds Exposed.  An investigation by Island Sun alleges that Taiwan has been providing up to $17 million a year since 2015 to keep the government intact.

http://theislandsun.com.sb/secret-funds-exposed/

Taiwan accused of bankrolling Solomons slush fund.  Taiwan has been named in a local media report about a multi-million dollar slush fund for Solomon Islands' prime ministers.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/349312/taiwan-accused-of-bankrolling-solomons-slush-fund

SAMOA:

Government moves to stop election corruption.  In tabling the Constitutional amendment, Prime Minister Tuilaepa called on the House Members to weigh reforms because it reflects the government's genuine drive to weed out corruption from electoral processes.

http://sobserver.ws/en/31_01_2018/local/29417/Govt-moves-to-stop-election-corruption.htm

Constitution Amendment Bill 2018 tabled. According to a statement issued by the Government's Press Secretary, the reforms are part of the wholesale approach by Government to completely overhaul the local electoral processes to eliminate corruption and illegal practices.

http://sobserver.ws/en/01_02_2018/local/29465/Constitution-Amendment-Bill-2018-tabled.htm

Passport accused pleads not guilty.  Former Immigration Officer, David Nomereta Uaine, pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court to 32 charges including forgery, corruption, bribery, improper issue of Samoan travel documents, unlawful recording of information from passport database, as well as  false representation. 

http://sobserver.ws/en/30_01_2018/local/29386/Passport-accused-pleads-not-guilty.htm

TONGA:

People ready to build nation, but corruption has made government dysfunctional, says PM.  Some senior government officials have abused foreign-funded projects, Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva told Kaniva News.

http://kanivatonga.nz/2018/01/people-ready-build-nation-corruption-made-government-dysfunctional-says-pm/

Hotel pay supervisor stole "ghost employees" payroll.  A former administration officer for the Tanoa Hotel, Selemana Fonua was found guilty of false accounting and theft of $21,299 pa'anga by the Tonga Supreme Court.

http://matangitonga.to/2018/01/29/hotel-pay-supervisor-stole-ghost-employees-payroll

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:

Maria Adomeit, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, maria.adomeit@unodc.org

Mihaela Stojkoska, Anti-Corruption Specialist - Pacific, UNDP, mihaela.stojkoska@undp.org

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

Popular posts from this blog

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

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 authorit...
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