Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (1 June 2019): PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

Papua New Guinea’s new PM to ‘review’ gas deals.  "Papua New Guineans are suffering," former Prime Minister Mekere Morauta warned Marape in an address to parliament. "You will need to address corruption and abuse, mismanagement of finances and mounting debt."

https://www.dw.com/en/papua-new-guineas-new-pm-to-review-gas-deals/a-48975005

Appeal to newly-appointed PM. “It is with the contribution of everybody and the acceptance of public scrutiny that true wellbeing and prosperity is promoted and corruption defeated!”

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/appeal-newly-appointed-pm-84582

PNG prime minister Peter O’Neill survived scandal after scandal, so what went wrong?  In 2014, police with the taskforce sought to arrest him over an allegation he authorized payments of more than $30 million to a law firm for fraudulent bills for legal work performed for the state.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-29/peter-oneills-wasted-years-as-pngs-prime-minister/11159928

 

FIJI:

Former Post Fiji boss withdraws appeal on corruption charges.  Mahendra Motibhai Patel, former Post Fiji Board indicated through his lawyer over an email his intention to withdraw his appeal against his conviction and sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment for abuse of office.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/court/former-post-fiji-boss-withdraws-appeal-on-corruption-charges/

Government Takes over Lagilagi Project after alleged abuse of funds. Premila Kumar said PCN received $12.7 million from Government, funds from donors and members savings.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/05/31/government-takes-over-lagilagi-project-after-alleged-abuse-of-funds/

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

“Bribe Corrupts The Heart," DC Manelusi.  TheDeputy Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIPF) Gabriel Manelusi said as he is farewelled during a parade held at Rove Police Headquarter.

https://www.solomontimes.com/news/bribe-corrupts-the-heart-dc-manelusi/9107

Logging ravaging the Solomon Islands’ forests.  Many were hoping that last month’s national election would bring in new leadership to take a hard line on the systemic corruption commentators claim facilitates the forestry sector.

https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/05/article/logging-ravaging-the-solomon-islands-forests/

 

SAMOA:

Immigration officer jailed over false passports in Samoa.  A Samoan immigration officer has been jailed over the sale of passports to foreigners.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/390941/immigration-officer-jailed-over-false-passports-in-samoa

 

 

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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