Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (22 February 2020): Solomon Islands, PNG, Vanuatu

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Two Solomon Islands MPs lose seats after 'Devils Night' bribery verdicts.  Two parliamentarians in Solomon Islands have lost their seats after the country's High Court found them guilty of bribing voters ahead of last year's national election.

https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/two-sol-islands-mps-lose-seats/11970836

Watchdog calls for ousted Solomons MPs to face charges.  Transparency Solomon Islands is asking whether two former MPs who lost their seats for bribing voters should also face criminal charges. Election petitions brought against education minister Moffat Fugui and backbencher Jamie Vokia in civil proceedings in the High Court were upheld.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/409880/watchdog-calls-for-ousted-solomons-mps-to-face-charges

SI-Customs collected $1.08 billion in revenue.  The Solomon Islands Customs has collected more than $1 billion dollar in the past 6 months, despite the alleged corruption issues going on within the organization, currently under review.

https://www.sibconline.com.sb/si-customs-collected-1-08-billion-in-revenue/

 

PNG:

PNG parliament passes whistle blowers bill.  Every MP in the house voted in support of the 2020 Whistle Blowers Bill. The Bill, introduced by Justice Minister and Attorney-General Davis Steven, aims to provide protection for those in the public sector to report corrupt practices.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/409811/png-parliament-passes-whistle-blowers-bill

PNG PM calls for full investigation in Horizon's scandal.  The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, is backing a full investigation into allegations the ASX-listed Horizon Oil ignored corruption warnings and paid a shell company linked to a senior minister $US10.3 million ($15.4 million).

https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/png-pm-calls-for-full-investigation-in-horizon-scandal-20200218-p541wn

 

VANUATU:

The EU expanded its tax haven blacklist but the world’s biggest tax haven isn’t on it.  The list, which threatens those included with greater financial scrutiny and a potential cut in EU aid, has received intense criticism in the past for naming little-known jurisdictions like Vanuatu, while declining to list the likes of Switzerland and the British Virgin Islands.

https://qz.com/1804812/eu-expands-its-tax-haven-blacklist-but-overlooks-biggest-culprit/

 

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