Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (19 Jan 2019): Fiji, PNG, Vanuatu, Nauru

Pacific links: “You’re my best friend”

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/pacific-links-you-re-my-best-friend

 

FIJI:

Prime Fiji ‘Has A Case To Answer’.  Magistrate Deepika Prakash has ruled that contractor Prime Fiji has a case to answer in the mat­ter brought by the Fiji Independ­ent Commission Cor­ruption (FICAC).

https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/01/16/prime-fiji-has-a-case-to-answer/

Case of former Vodafone Fiji staff deferred to March. The Against former Vodafone employee is charged with two counts of bribery and one count of obtaining financial advantage

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/court/case-of-former-vodafone-fiji-staff-deferred-to-march/

Issues raised with Fiji Code of Conduct Bill. A proposed law in Fiji which would jail or fine people found making a malicious complaint about a public official is ridiculous and curious, a prominent Suva lawyer says.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/380147/issues-raised-with-fiji-code-of-conduct-bill

 

PNG:

PNG failing to confront human rights issues – HRW. "We are seeing the pervasive problems of corruption, land confiscation without adequate compensation, gender based violence, police abuse, prison over-crowding - all of these are key challenges," Ms. Pearson said.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/380359/png-failing-to-confront-human-rights-issues-hrw

Bougainville public servants called on to lift their game. It comes amid a Papua New Guinea Fraud Squad investigation into allegations of corruption and misappropriation by government workers.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/379959/bougainville-public-servants-called-on-to-lift-their-game

PNG super fund praises official after charges dropped. Papua New Guinea's national superannuation agency, NASFUND, says its chief investment officer was arrested for doing his job - enquiring into one of the companies it had invested in.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/380153/png-super-fund-praises-official-after-charges-dropped

 

VANUATU:

Vanuatu committee to consider pardoning former MPs. Vanuatu's justice minister has set up a committee to consider pardoning former members of parliament.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/380164/vanuatu-committee-to-consider-pardoning-former-mps

Vanuatu police warn about seasonal work scammers. Vanuatu's Police Fraud Unit has warned about scammers targeting seasonal workers, saying it has a number of registered cases related to this area.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/380230/vanuatu-police-warn-about-seasonal-work-scammers

Air Vanuatu bringing in ID checks on domestic flights. A statement from Air Vanuatu confirmed that ID checks will be introduced due to a high incidence of identity fraud in past years.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/380033/air-vanuatu-bringing-in-id-checks-on-domestic-flights

76% of people surveyed do not understand national budget.  76% of the people who were interviewed for the Citizens Budget Research Project spearheaded by Transparency International Vanuatu (TIV)said they do not know the national budget.

http://dailypost.vu/news/of-people-surveyed-do-not-understand-national-budget/article_7deb69c4-2b11-50d6-9ad9-228220812ed4.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

 

NAURU:

Nauru doctor wins global free speech award for speaking out on offshore immigration. A doctor on Nauru who blew the whistle on the deliberate medical neglect of refugees and asylum seekers on the island has been awarded a global award for free speech.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/17/nauru-doctor-wins-global-free-speech-award-for-speaking-out-on-offshore-immigration

 

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

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