The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands is calling for a united effort to combat corruption in the country.
Manasseh Sogavare made the comments yesterday as he pledged additional support and resources to the completion of a National Anti-Corruption Strategy by the end of the year.
A steering committee providing oversight for this process includes representatives from the government, the private sector, civil society with the option of bringing on board donor partners as the need arises.
The special secretary to the PM Andrew Muaki says the National Anti-Corruption Strategy will go hand in hand with proposed Anti-Corruption legislation to be tabled in parliament by early next year.
Mr Muaki spoke with Koroi Hawkins
Solomon Islands coat of arms on Parliament buildings in Honiara
Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins
Transcript
ANDREW MUAKI: It is a requirement under the convention (UN CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION) that we need to have a strategy a national anti-corruption strategy and in order to have that we decided to have a steering committee to oversee output in ensuring we come up with that anti-corruption strategy for Solomon Islands.
KOROI HAWKINS: And what kind of things are going to be in that strategy what are you looking at?
AM: Well I am not going to pre-empt what the committee will do but there are things like getting everyone on board how we, different agencies will work together to address issues of corruption in this country. Having a legislation is one thing, the other thing is to ensure that the different agencies that address various aspects of corruption can work together in addressing corruption in Solomon Islands. Does this tie into the legislation that the prime minister has tried and is I understand reviewing to bring to parliament in relation to political integrity. Well they go hand in hand because under the current bill there is a clause that says after the bill comes into effect we need to come up with an anti-corruption, national anti-corruption strategy within six months. Since that, the bill is actually not yet passed we decided to do this first in order for us to meet that requirement once the bill becomes law.
KH: Now the prime minister has come out and said he has pledged extra support to your work what does that mean?
AM: Well basically the honorable prime minister is appealing to everyone as he clearly stated in his remarks, the fight against corruption is everyone's business. That is political leaders, the government officials, law enforcement and integrity institutions as well as of course the private sector. So the prime minister wants this to be a national effort. That corruption should be seen as an issue that everyone in the country both the private and the public sector should address for the good of Solomon Islands.
To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following:
See terms of use.