Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (17 August 2019): Samoa, PNG
The state of the Pacific as the 2019 Forum convenes. As with the O’Neill government, the critical question for Marape will be the handling of corruption, not because of external pressure on that front (nowadays much diminished), but due to domestic concern about the antics of PNG elites during the country’s liquid natural gas boom.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/state-pacific-2019-forum-convenes
SAMOA:
Corruption definitions changeable, journalism constant. Varying definitions of corruption pose a challenge to journalists covering corruption but it's far from insurmountable, an Australian journalist has told a workshop on reporting on corruption.
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/47430
Workshop on Investigative Reporting for Samoa Journalists
PNG:
'I will eventually get killed': Meet Bryan Kramer, Papua New Guinea's anti-corruption tsar. “My response was, God will decide when it is time for me to leave this earth and if it happens in my cause to fight corruption then so be it,” wrote Kramer. “I have no question of doubt I will eventually get killed for what I do. It goes without saying when you get in the way of those stealing billions in public funds, they will do whatever it takes to get rid of you.”
PNG National Airport Corporation boss arrested and Charged over fraud and Corruption. Managing Director for Papua New Guinea National Airport Corporation Richard Yopo has been arrested and charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to allegations made against him.
https://news.pngfacts.com/2019/08/png-national-airport-corporation-boss.html
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