Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (16 February 2019): Solomon Islands, Micronesia, Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji

-

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Group eyes trading votes for cash. A group of voters in Ward 17 in East Kwaio Constituency, Malaita Province said they will not cast their votes in the April 3 national general election, unless they are paid with cash.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/21381-no-cash-no-vote

 

Solomon Islands MP Mua trial adjourned. He is accused of diverting $3 million (US$376,000) shipping grant intended to purchase a ship for his constituency in 2013.

http://pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=8284804375c53cab0afbe1dca7b3d1

 

Money the focus of Solomons elections Transparency. Transparency Solomon Islands says MPs should not have direct control over funds for their constituencies.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/382306/money-the-focus-of-solomons-elections-transparency

 

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA:

Bribery case against FSM airport official details cash, cars and trips. Federated States of Micronesia government official who allegedly received bribes from a contractor who sought to secure engineering and project management contracts from the FSM government.

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/fsm-airport-official-arrested-in-bribery-case/article_c36fd35a-2f07-11e9-ae1f-871a77d22d46.html

 

SAMOA:

American Samoa, Guam, Samoa added to EU blacklist, Vanuatu removed. The European Commission added Saudi Arabia, Panama, U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam and Samoa to a blacklist of nations it considers a threat because of lax controls on terrorism financing and money laundering, the EU executive said.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-saudi-moneylaundering/eu-adds-saudi-arabia-to-dirty-money-blacklist-upsets-uk-us-idUSKCN1Q215X

 

Man who threw pig’s head at Samoa PM escapes punishment.  Mr. Pauga told Newsline his action was a protest against corruption in the ruling Human Rights Protection Party.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/382307/man-who-threw-pig-s-head-at-samoa-pm-escapes-punishment

 

VANUATU:

Vanuatu's new Labour chief says she won't tolerate corruption. She told the Daily Post her officers are there to help people, and any conducting themselves in an improper manner will face disciplinary measures.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/382092/vanuatu-s-new-labour-chief-says-she-won-t-tolerate-corruption

 

 

FIJI

Aquaheat South Pacific Ltd signs corporate integrity pledge. The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption had its first Corporate Integrity Pledge signing.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/aquaheat-south-pacific-ltd-signs-corporate-integrity-pledge/

 

Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit receives and analyses 650 suspicious transaction reports. The Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit received and analyzed 650 suspicious transaction reports and disseminated 448 intelligence reports to law enforcement agencies for further investigation of possible tax evasion, money laundering and other serious offences in 2017.

http://fijivillage.com/news/Fiji-Financial-Intelligence-Unit-receives-and-analyses-650-suspicious-transaction-reports-s9rk52/

 

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