Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (14 March 2020): PNG, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Palau, Micronesia

PNG:

Informal systems of reciprocity, service delivery and corruption. Rather than judging the system to be good or bad, we describe its role as falling along a continuum, ranging from providing potentially lifesaving benefits to encouraging corruption.

https://devpolicy.org/informal-systems-of-reciprocity-service-delivery-and-corruption-20200306/

PNG police reform starts with hierarchy in Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea's Police Minister says a major reform of the constabulary is targetting poor administration and corruption.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/411600/png-police-reform-starts-with-hierarchy-in-port-moresby

Manus Island contractor's lobbying efforts in PNG revealed for the first time. Mr Stewart, who is understood to have authorised the Trakpro payment, also raised the matter at the next Paladin board meeting and called for the company to establish a "bribery and corruption policy", according to an email to Mr Saul.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/manus-island-contractor-s-lobbying-efforts-in-png-revealed-for-the-first-time-20200310-p548im.html

Former Lands Board Chairman Charged. Former Lands Board chairman Francis Tanga has been arrested on charges of fraud and official corruption and later released on police bail in Port Moresby

https://postcourier.com.pg/former-lands-board-chairman-charged/

 

TONGA:

Six charges dropped against former Tongan PM. Six charges of bribery and money laundering against former Tongan Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano have been dropped.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/411216/six-charges-dropped-against-former-tongan-pm

Former Tonga PM found guilty of perjury in passports-for-sale scandal. Nuku'alofa, Tonga - Former Tonga prime minister Lord Tu'ivakano has been found guilty of perjury over a passports-for-sale scandal involving Chinese nationals in the Pacific island country.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/03/10/20/former-tonga-pm-found-guilty-of-perjury-in-passports-for-sale-scandal

 

FIJI:

Juvenile charged for giving false information. A juvenile was produced in the Suva Magistrates court yesterday after allegedly registering under a false name using false information.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/court/juvenile-charged-for-giving-false-information/

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

SINU boss accused of ‘spying’ on staff emails. His orders came after reports of his alleged “corrupt activities” were leaked to the media, the university’s ICT department insiders told the Solomon Star.

https://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/22926-sinu-boss-accused-of-spying-on-staff-emails

 

PALAU:

Another presidential election in the Pacific at the same time as the US elections. The truth is still in the bush, but there were movements, incentives and undercurrents of anti-nuclear, communism, drugs and corruption.

https://noqreport.com/2020/03/10/another-presidential-election-in-the-pacific-at-the-same-time-as-the-us-elections/

 

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA:

Flagging up flag fraud. He spoke of “the scourge of fraudulent registries” and told the gathering when and how flag fraud first came to IMO’s attention: it was in 2015 and IMO itself was defrauded by a group claiming to be working for the registry of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).

https://shipinsight.com/articles/flagging-up-flag-fraud

 

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