Anti-Corruption Day to be marked next week

The 2019 International Anti-Corruption Day will be marked in Honiara on 9 December.

A Government statement said the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) will host the event in partnership with national Integrity and accountability institutions such as Solomon Islands National University (SINU), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) and Development Services Exchange (DSE).

An official program will commence with the keynote address from Prime Minister Mannesah Sogavare, followed by a panel discussion on topics relating to anti-corruption.

The program’s organizing committee said Corruption is a cross-cutting issue that affects all countries around the world including the Solomon Islands.

It said the International Anti-Corruption Day is a time when people, institutions and organizations who share common sentiments about corruption and its effects can come together in numbers to rally support against corruption.

The statement said Corruption undermines democracy, creates unstable governments, and is a setback to any economy.

It adds, the onus to address corruption is on each and every citizen to address it, and not only for responsible authorities like the Government, Judiciary, Police, Non-Governmental Organizations, Private Sector, and the media to address.

Meanwhile, the statement said the day will begin with a ‘Walk against Corruption’, parade from the Honiara City Council to the National Museum.

As a lead up to the event, there will be a public forum held at SINU tomorrow followed by a talkback show this weekend.

This is to keep the public engaged and informed on what corruption is and the effects, the ways to better address corruption and understanding of integrity institutions followed by a radio talkback show on the National Broadcaster.

Programs at the National Museum Auditorium will start from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm under the theme ‘United Against Corruption’.