19 Nov 2018

Marshall Islands, Cook Islands blamed for reform block at IMO

11:42 am on 19 November 2018

The Cook Islands and the Marshall Islands could be hampering transparency reform at the International Maritime Organisation, an international NGO said.

69760535 - scenery of the fishing port

69760535 - scenery of the fishing port Photo: mtaira/123RF

This week, the UN's maritime regulation body will mull implementing new measures including making meetings public and giving journalists more access.

It comes after a Transparency International assessment in July found the organisation was plagued by outside influence.

But in a statement last week, Transparency International said it was concerned six countries, including the Cook Islands and the Marshall Islands, signed a submission opposing some reforms.

The submission said expanded access to information about the International Maritime Organisation could itself lead to outside influence.