Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (15 February 2020): Cook Islands, PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji

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Pacific leaders agree on vision to tackle corruption in region.  A vision of the Pacific united against corruption was released from last week's first Pacific Regional Anti Corruption Conference in Kiribati. The conference was attended by the President of Kiribati, the prime ministers of Samoa and the Cook Islands as well as ministers and anti corruption officials from across the region.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/409448/pacific-leaders-agree-on-vision-to-tackle-corruption-in-region

 

COOK ISLANDS:

‘Political will’ key to drive anti-corruption. “Prime Minister Henry Puna along with other Pacific leaders have stressed “political will” the key to drive anti-corruption in the region... The Pacific leaders and representatives adopted a ground-breaking vision during the summit and endorsed commitments that build on their national engagement with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/75928-political-will-key-to-drive-anti-corruption

 

PNG:

Will Papua New Guinea get serious about corruption? (Blog). “While there has been much debate about new measures to address national debt, little has been done about the waste created by corruption at virtually every level of society in Papua New Guinea.”

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/development-of-a-national-anti-corruption-strategy-underway/

 

Horizon suspends CEO amid PNG pay probe. Horizon Oil has suspended its chief executive amid an investigation into claims of a questionable payment in Papua New Guinea. https://www.themercury.com.au/business/breaking-news/horizon-suspends-ceo-amid-png-pay-probe/news-story/d8d92aa72f203a1c084af50f38cef59a

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Conflict of interest, Says TSI. Transparency Solomon Islands commends the media for keeping the public informed about the action/decision of the member of Parliament for Gizo/Kolombangara Hon. Lanelle Tanagada awarding her husband one of the six Constituency Scholarships allocated to the Constituency. What is of concern and more disturbing to note is her openly defiance response to questions raised by the media with much confidence at that.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/22729-conflict-of-interest-says-tsi

 

Remove discretion powers from MPs.  Theuse of ‘discretion powers’ by the members of parliament has given them more avenues to roam without fear of voter repercussion and should be totally stripped off. Speaking in the condition of anonymity to this paper an officer within the government circle said that this ‘discretion power’ has created rooms for most ministers of the crown to abuse their powers.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/22723-remove-discretion-powers-from-mps

 

FIJI:

Immigration employee and individual face corruption charges. “A Permit Officer with the Fiji Immigration Department has been charged with corruption-related offenses…It is alleged that Sautu accepted advantage of $500 from Yuen last month on account of her performing an act in her capacity as a public servant.”

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/immigration-employee-and-individual-face-corruption-charges/

 

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

 

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