Solomons urged to make sure ICAC is independent

Transcript

Transparency Solomon Islands is calling on government to exclude itself from election or appointment processes in the country's proposed Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The call comes after a recent workshop held in Honiara behind closed doors looked at the results of the country's UNCAC peer review.

Transparency Solomon Islands Research and Advocacy Officer, Phillip Manakako says an ICAC is needed because accountability institutions in the country come under the office of the Prime Minister and have no power to prosecute.

PHILLIP MANAKAKO: They are part of the government system under the Prime Minister's Office and their role is on investigation and then that is it.They don't have any power to prosecute or the powers of prosecution only falls within the police.

KOROI HAWKINS: Right and an independent commission would act outside of that would there be still any government control? In appointing people in there for example that would probably be something to worry about?

PM: Yes I think what Transparency Solomon Islands is calling for, is wanting to see is that the new institution that is established is an institution that has the power to investigate and at the same time prosecute acts of corruption. And that sentiment is also shared by other civil society groups they want the new body to have the power to prosecute as well.

KH: But would the government have any say in who was elected on that commission? Like if they created this body I assume they would want some say in who gets appointed onto that independent commission?

PM: That is the thing that we worry about. We want that independent commission to be as independent as it can be. The idea that we want is that there should be this institution should be set up by  an act of parliament. And in that act it stipulates how to elect or select those commissions and that should be done by a committee outside of the members of the members of the parliament or government.

KH: And finally I understand that there was a recent workshop which was just for government and the internal organisations if you can just briefly touch on what that was about and why other stakeholders were not able to or were not even invited to attend that workshop?

PM: I think that workshop was specifically held for senior government officials, officers from the Prime Ministers Office, the Solomon Islands UNCAC review team. They also present their findings in terms of what the country needs to do in terms of criminalising the acts of corruption in the country. We are hoping that something good is coming out from that and then if the government is serious about it like the way they say it in the media. That they will soon establish that Anti-Corruption sometimes later this year and the effectiveness next year that is a good step.