Corruption in the Pacific - a threat to cultural identity

Abstract

This is an edited transcript of a panel discussion at a Pacific preconference of the World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC) congress in Auckland in July 2016 that relates to fundamentally crucial issues about development in the region. As the world comes more intensely interested in what is going on in the Pacific. Numerous international treaties have been signed with interest in the Pacific from the European Union, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank in partnership with the South Pacific Forum as well as massive interest from foreign donors. How these resources are being deployed is actually crucial to successful development and many news media are trying to trace where the money goes. This is probably one of the biggest challenges, aside from global climate change and the depleting fishery resources, facing the Pacific and is a threat to cultural identity. ‘Corruption is much like cancer: it’s got to be treated early, otherwise there’s going to be massive expensive interventions, as we see in Africa, as we see in Asia, and as we see in South America,’ says panel convenor Fuimaono Tuiasau of Transparency International New Zealand. Panellists were: Dr Shailendra Singh, coordinator of the University of the South Pacific journalism programme, Alexander Rheeney, editor-in-chief of the PNG Post-Courier, and Kalafi Moala, owner, publisher and editor of Taimi ‘o Tonga.