Corruption Still Scourge of the Pacific

Corruption remains the scourge of the Pacific despite the paper commitments to combat the problem made by many governments in the region according to the Pacific Chapters of Transparency International. Transparency International (TI) is a global movement committed to the combating of corruption.

At the conclusion of their 2004 regional conference, in Wellington, New Zealand, the Pacific Chapters of TI called for political will and resources from Pacific governments to make their anti corruption commitments effective.

This month’s meeting of Pacific Forum Economic Ministers in Rotorua confirmed the previous commitments, made by Pacific leaders, to transparent and accountable governance, but the TI chapters point out that little has been done to implement these previous commitments.

The Chapters called for the region’s governments to allow more citizen input into their country’s budgets and more transparency and accountability in the way government money is spent.

The meeting was attended by Transparency International Chapters from Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand, along with observers from the Cook Islands and Samoa.

While there is much to be alarmed about, the Chapters also pointed to the outstanding success of the multi-million dollar Tuvalu Trust Fund as an example of good governance in the region.

Contact:, Executive Officer, Transparency International New Zealand.
Ph (64 4) 905 7928 Cell Ph. (64 21) 118 2014 email: scave@paradise.net.nz

Note for News Editors:
There will be a meeting of the delegates of the Pacific chapters of TI, and members of Auckland’s Pacific communities, on Monday 21 June, from 12:00 – 2:00 at the
Waikowhai Room, Fickling Convention Centre, 546 Mount Albert Road, Three Kings.