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Fiji’s Corruption Perceptions Index Score Highlights Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Agency

By Joseph Veramu -
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Joseph Veramu is an Executive of CLCT Integrity Fiji The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2021 results released on Jan 25, 2022 showed that Fiji received a score of 55 out of 100 and a ranking of 45 out of 180 nations. The CPI ranks 180 countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The results are given on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Two-thirds of countries scored below 50, indicating that they have serious corruption problems, while 27 countries are at their lowest score ever. A Report in Transparency Times of 24/1/2022 noted that “From a Transparency International New Zealand point of view, it was also pleasing, given the work we’ve been doing with Fiji to see them re-enter the index rating with a score of 55, placing it well inside the top 50 countries.” Grace Konrote of Integrity Fiji’s Youth Network noted “we have to give credit where it is due. The Fijian anti-corruption agency FICAC has worked hard in anti-corruption advocacy and i...
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New Zealand Foreign Policy in the Pacific

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by Joseph Veramu (joseph.veramu@outlook.com) On the Air New Zealand plane back to Fiji from Wellington in February 2019 after I attended a week-long workshop on governance and the role of non-state agencies in the Pacific anti-corruption space, I reflected critically on the Pacific and the development aid that was poured into it. My participation had been funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT) and facilitated by Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ). This article reflects on how current progressive policies are proactively shaping Pacific policy narratives and space. New Zealand’s Progressive Policies On February 27th 2018, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in her foreign policy address indicated a major shift in terms of increased support for Pacific nations. For Pacific islanders used to leaders attired in power suits and mouthing policy lines on increased GDP and trade, she was like a graceful dolphin moving symbiotically in its habi...
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Procurement Processes in Fiji and Strategies for Curbing Corruption

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  Joseph Veramu CLCT: Integrity Fiji: Supported by Transparency International In the Financial Year from August 2020 to July 2021, a little more than $1.2 billion will be spent by the Fijian Government on various goods and services. This entails small items being purchased like stationeries to huge projects like the construction of roads and bridges. Like other states globally where so much money changes hands, there are always temptations to succumb to corrupt practices for personal gain. Fbc.news.com reported on 23/5/2020 that the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) revealed that more than $1.6 million has been lost due to corruption in the public procurement sector. FICAC cases involving alleged procurement scams make up approximately 18 percent of all their cases. They have 17 cases pending before the court. FICAC is in the process of preparing a comprehensive training program for those involved in public procurement. FICAC notes that it is evident that c...
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