Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (12 Jan 2019): PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa

-

Pacific predictions: 2019. A number of Pacific island countries will hold national elections this year. The peoples of Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Tuvalu, and Marshall Islands will all go to the polls in 2019.

http://www.devpolicy.org/pacific-predictions-2019-20190107/

 

PNG:

TIPNG Oppose Incentives For Cops. Transparency International PNG is of the strong view that the police hierarchy needs to focus on the real issues affecting the force rather than paying incentives to its officers in Port Moresby.

https://postcourier.com.pg/tipng-oppose-incentives-cops/

Former CNN Heavyweight Encourages Local Media to Fight Corruption in 2019. A prominent media expert from the United States has encouraged Papua New Guinean journalists to be proactive and fearless in their fight against corruption this year.

https://postcourier.com.pg/former-cnn-heavyweight-encourages-local-media-fight-corruption-2019/

PNG MP not shocked by fraud squad cuts. Papua New Guinea opposition MP, Kerenga Kua, says the country's fraud squad will not be properly funded until Peter O'Neill is removed as prime minister.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/379803/png-mp-not-shocked-by-fraud-squad-cuts

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Former Solomon Islands premier arrested on corruption charges.  The former premier of the Solomon Islands province of Temotu has been arrested on corruption charges.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/379288/former-solomon-islands-premier-arrested-on-corruption-charges  

Why police arrested Temotu leaders. Police say three Temotu leaders arrested before Christmas improperly accepted inducements or payments for considerations or decisions in their official capacity.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/21207-why-police-arrested-temotu-leaders

 

FIJI:

Experts to help in fraud probe. The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission will rope in technical expertise to help in investigations pertaining to allegations over the Lagilagi Housing Project in Raiwaqa, Suva.

https://www.fijitimes.com/experts-to-help-in-fraud-probe/

Fraud suspect to take plea next month. A 27-year-old man charged with two counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception had his bail extended by the Suva Magistrates Court.

https://www.fijitimes.com/fraud-suspect-to-take-plea-next-month/

Bail denied for fraud suspects. Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa this afternoon did not grant bail to three people charged with separate counts of money laundering and fraudulent falsification of accounts amounting to $699,000 at the Suva Magistrate Court.

https://www.fijitimes.com/bail-denied-for-fraud-suspects/

 

SAMOA:

Fuimaono Afele Taimalelagi - Keeping the Government honest. “Controller and Auditor General, Fuimaono Mata’afa Papali’i Camillo G. Afele Taimalelagi, and his Office have made a big difference in an effort to keep the Government, accountable, transparent and honest.”

http://www.sobserver.ws/en/31_12_2018/local/39793/Fuimaono-Afele-Taimalelagi---Keeping-the-Government-honest.htm

 

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

Annika Wythes, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, annika.wythes@un.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

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