Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (19 October 2019): PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands

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PNG:

PNG Cabinet endorses bill for anti-corruption commission. Papua New Guinea's Cabinet has reportedly approved legislation to establish an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/401004/png-cabinet-endorses-bill-for-anti-corruption-commission

Papua New Guinea police seek to arrest ex-PM over 'corruption'. Papua New Guinea (PNG) police have issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on suspicion of “official corruption” but he was refusing to cooperate, authorities said. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/papua-guinea-police-seek-arrest-pm-corruption-191015074632756.html

Mismanagement costing billions and destroying PNG’s economy. The best way for PNG to increase economic growth and boost the size of the economy is for the government to implement a comprehensive plan to tackle corruption.

https://postcourier.com.pg/mismanagement-costing-billions-and-destroying-pngs-economy/

 

FIJI:

Former USP Vice Chancellor ‘violated’ norms, say staff and students. University of the South Pacific staff and students have released a rebuttal to former Vice Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra’s claim that he has been “vindicated” from any wrong-doing during his tenure at the university.

https://asiapacificreport.nz/2019/10/14/former-usp-vice-chancellor-violated-norms-say-staff-and-students/

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

China Is Leasing an Entire Pacific Island. Its Residents Are Shocked. “What worries me much more about the new Chinese engagement, be it political or economic, in the Pacific is the way in which this engagement is taking place, being lubricated by elite capture and corruption,” said Jonathan Pryke, a Pacific islands expert with the Lowy Institute in Sydney. Though patronage and corruption have long been a challenge, he added, “this engagement has certainly taken it to a whole new level.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/16/world/australia/china-tulagi-solomon-islands-pacific.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

Marine Destrez, Anti-Corruption Specialist – Pacific a.i., UNDP, marine.destrez@undp.org

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@und-p.org

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