Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (8 May 2021): Solomon Islands, Samoa, Palau, Vanuatu

-

Pacific anti-corruption journalists call for regional commitment to media freedom.  Marking World Press Freedom Day 2021, the Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists Network (PACJN) has called for a regional Pacific commitment to boost media freedom

and help increase reporting on activities at risk of corruption…PACJN's media strengthening work is being delivered by the Pacific Islands News Association, which is supported by the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, a joint initiative by UNODC and UNDP supported by the Australian Government and the New Zealand Aid Programme.

https://www.solomontimes.com/news/pacific-anticorruption-journalists-call-for-regional-commitment-to-media-freedom/10807

https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Pacific-anti-corruption-journalists-call-for-regional-commitment-to-media-freedom-fr4x58/

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Anti-Corruption Commission Rolls Out Recruitment Plan.  The newly established Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC) office is now rolling out its recruitment Plan.

https://www.solomontimes.com/news/anticorruption-commission-rolls-out-recruitment-plan/10802

 

SAMOA

FAST Leader tells Samoa Head of State calling fresh elections undermine rule of law.  The FAST Party Leader, Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa has written to the Head of State advising that his intention to call for new elections as wrong, unlawful and threaten and undermine the rule of law.

http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=7311941466091c75fc60b8e5545242

 

PALAU

Palau President Whipps first 100 days focus on government realignment.  President Surangel Whipps Jr delivered his first State of The Republic Address…"Our government is being reorganized and realigned to improve services through greater transparency and accountability. Certainly, it is not about scaling down the workforce; instead, it is about improving services."

https://islandtimes.org/president-whipps-first-100-days-focus-on-government-realignment/

 

VANUATU

Vanuatu Parliament Clerk under investigation.  Vanuatu Speaker of Parliament, Gracia Shadrack has appointed a panel to investigate Clerk of Parliament, Raymond Manuaken over allegations of serious misconduct, neglecting of duties and incompetency.

https://dailypost.vu/news/parliament-clerk-under-investigation/article_4aaaaa00-ab95-11eb-9902-0f78634a9dd3.html 

Popular posts from this blog

The Pacific - Nepal - Eastern Europe & Central Asia

-
[Blog] How are perceptions of corruption in seven small Pacific countries? Larger Pacific Island neighbors are often garnering the lion's share of attention both from researchers and policy makers. How are the experiences of corruption in countries like Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), The Cook Islands, Palau, and Nauru? DevPolicy Blog: https://devpolicy.org/perceptions-of-corruption-in-seven-small-pacific-island-countries-20230223/   [Opinion] Two decades of new anti-corruption law in Nepal: Why it missed its mark. According to a Nepalese journalist, the Anti-Corruption law and Prevention of Corruption act of 2002 laid the foundation for numerous investigations, scandals, and court cases. To a large extent, they did however fail to enable significant conviction and return of assets. Online Khabar: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/anti-corruption-law-missing-target.html   [Blog] Growing security risks and authoritarian
Read more

Middle East & North Africa - Ukraine - Sri Lanka

-
Corruption fuels ongoing conflict. The Middle East and North Africa has been in a decline on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for years. The region is also ranked as the "least peaceful region" according to the Global Peace Index. Transparency International (TI) argues that corruption, conflict, and security are profoundly intertwined. TI: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2022-middle-east-north-africa-corruption-fuels-ongoing-conflict   [Opinion] Ukraine's corruption purge is setting the stage for private investment-driven recovery. Corruption is regarded as a key threat to the Ukrainian economy, depriving public budgets and discouraging foreign direct investments (FDI). The current administration has taken strong anti-corruption action, and the country has witnessed a significant increase in FDI in recent years, says author. DevDiscourse: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/business/2353089-ukraines-corruption-purge-setting-stage-
Read more

Global - Sub-Saharan Africa - Turkey & Syria

-
Invisible Trillions review: Global capitalism operates beyond the rule of law and threatens democracy. Raymond W. Baker's new book "Invisible Trillions" argues that "secrecy has become as important for corporations as transparent and taxable profits used to be". "Only radical improvements across the globe in financial transparency and accountability, and in regulatory capacity and integrity, can break this cycle of political decay and despair". The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/invisible-trillions-review-global-capitalism-operates-beyond-the-rule-of-law-and-threatens-democracy-199311   [Blog] The dynamics of violent extremism in sub-Saharan Africa. There is no better environment for the expansion of violent extremist groups than a vacuum in state authority. These groups begin to compete with the state and may even be initially attractive to communities weary of years of lawlessness, corruption, and chaos according to autho
Read more