Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (1 May 2021): PNG, Fiji

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COVID procurement under the media microscope.  Pacific anti-corruption journalists investigated the mitigation of potential corruption risks in public procurement in response to COVID-19 during their latest knowledge-sharing session on 28 April, supported by the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA).

https://www.pacific.undp.org/content/pacific/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2021/covid-procurement-under-the-media-microscope.html

 

PNG

Greater transparency urged on PNG's Covid-19 response.  A transparency group in Papua New Guinea wants the government to release greater detail about how it's funding the Covid-19 response.

https://www.fijitimes.com/greater-transparency-urged-on-pngs-covid-19-response/

 

Accountability is the path to better governance in PNG.  When we look at progress in decentralisation in Papua New Guinea over the last 20 years – the sole continuous and overriding policy priority of successive governments – many challenges remain to improve downstream service delivery. Programming for “social accountability” shifts the focus from government to governance.

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/accountability-path-better-governance-png

 

Fiji

Professor Pal Ahluwalia is still the vice chancellor – USP chancellor.  Professor Pal Ahluwalia is still the vice chancellor of the University of the South Pacific and once issues are cleared at council level, he will be allowed to operate out of any member country outside of Fiji.

https://www.fijitimes.com/professor-pal-ahluwalia-is-still-the-vice-chancellor-usp-chancellor/

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