4 May 2004

Calls for anti corruption agencies in Solomons to have more powers

7:55 am on 4 May 2004

The Head of the Solomon Islands Intervention Taskforce, Paul Tovua, says the anti corruption agenices with government need more powers.

HIs comments come after the Regional Assistance Mission put forward proposals for the existing anti corruption agencies to share their administration and investigators and to be governed by one board.

He says the three agencies, the Leadership Code Commission, Ombudsman and the Auditor General's Office need to be seen as strong:

"But this recommendations clearly gives them more teeth so that they can become truly the accountability organisations."

Mr Tovua says the issue of corruption is an important aspect of the Regional Assistance Mission's work in Solomon Islands