The Commissioner of FICAC, Mr. Rashmi Aslam;
British High Commissioner to Fiji, His Excellency Dr. Brian Jones;
UN Deputy Resident Representative, Ms. Yemesrach Workie;
Deputy Secretary-General, Dr Filmon Manoni;
Members of the Diplomatic Corp;
Members of the Legal Fraternity;
Permanent Secretaries and government representatives;
Distinguished Panelists, participants and guests; • Members of the Media;
Ladies and gentlemen.
 
Miau sa bula re and good morning to you all! 
             
It is my distinct pleasure to be present this morning and to deliver the opening address for the inaugural Pacific Anti-Corruption Regional conference.  
 
At the outset, I wish to commend the joint efforts of the Attorney-General’s Office of Fiji, the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office, under the Strengthening Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability in Pacific Island Countries Project (‘Pacific Anti-Corruption Project’) funded by the Government of the United Kingdom, in bringing all of us together for this Conference. I wish to particularly thank the Fiji Government for approving that this conference be hosted in Fiji. 
 
Ladies and gentlemen, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, “corruption”, in a nutshell, gives rise to inequality, at the same time it diminishes popular accountability and political responsiveness, that in turn produces rising frustration and hardship among citizens, who are then more likely to accept (or even demand) hard-handed and illiberal tactics. Undetected and unchecked corruption particularly in the public sector can cause serious damage which includes the undermining of public trust in the government, wastage of public resources and public funding.The public sector is not the only societal group that is affected by corruption. Acts of corruption have a domino effect when they occur and the ultimate consequence is a sub-par and incomplete job that negatively impact the everyday lives of everyday citizens in our countries and region. 
 
Corruption does not just affect the State or the public sector alone. It is an evil that has the potential to permeate and destroy our society as a whole. Anti-corruption is without a doubt an essential element of good governance in which the State carries the main responsibility of ensuring that it has strong anti-corruption mechanisms and measures in place – working collaboratively, to put an end to corruption. 
 
Ladies and gentlemen, in this increasingly digitised world where technology, trade and migration are making global and regional interconnectivity the norm – there can be no doubt that, sooner or later, the effects of corruption committed in one country may impact another.  From viewing the comprehensive programme I can see that over the next two (2) days, you will delve deeply into how important it is for our countries to have a whole of society approach towards effectively combatting corruption, as well as seeing just how imperative a united and robust cross-border regional anti-corruption effort will be.  As a region we share a past. Our ancestors sailed across our great Blue Pacific continent to settle our beautiful and idyllic island homes. It is because of this that, as a region, we share a heritage. Whether we are from Micronesia, Melanesia or Polynesia – we are all “Children of the Pacific”. It is also because of this that we share a common goal for our future – we want our region to not only survive its many challenges, but to thrive through it all.  As a region, we are not strangers to uniting to fight the significant challenges that we face and finding effective solutions and clear ways forward for important issues that come our way. We have stood together to support each other in trade. We have stood together to support each other in rebuilding after natural disasters. We have stood together to support each other through issues regarding environmental pollution. We have stood together to support each other through the challenges brought about by climate change. We have stood together to support each other through the recent pandemic and many other challenges. And now, I urge all Pacific Island Countries – and stakeholders from outside the region - who are represented here at this Conference, to stand together to fight against corruption.
 
At a global level, the fight against corruption is informed mainly by the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which is the world’s only universal and legally binding anticorruption instrument. The UNCAC was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 31 December 2003 and entered into force on 14 December 2005. In recognition of just how problematic corruption is for good governance and how imperative effective anti-corruption mechanisms and measures are, the members of the United Nations have made the UNCAC one of the UN’s most widely ratified Conventions; with 187 out of 193 member countries ratifying the Convention to date. In addition to UNCAC, the global fight against corruption is also informed by Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. At a regional level, all countries in our Blue Pacific have either ratified or ascended to the UNCAC. Ladies and gentlemen, this is encouraging for our region. 
 
More so is the commitment of our regional leaders, through the Teieniwa Vision, to the 2020 Pacific Unity Against Corruption, which recognizes that all our progress and aspirations for a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous Pacific cannot be realized unless we adequately and effectively address corruption. I am aware that the fight against corruption has not and will never be an easy one, whether we are implementing robust anti-corruption measures domestically as individual countries or collectively as a region. However, we cannot let this deter us. The World Economic Forum estimates that the cost of corruption is at least $2.6 trillion USD, which is about 5% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP); whilst the World Bank estimates that a total of $1 trillion USD is paid out by businesses and individuals on an annual basis. 
 
This means that for our small island developing states, more often than not, fighting corruption may take more resources than we are able to commit as individual States. Our region is made up of countries that are unique and diverse, not only in terms of people, culture and language, but also in terms of size and economic capabilities. This is why, ladies and gentlemen, I firmly believe that the way forward for us as a region is to unite and commit to fighting corruption together. I had mentioned earlier that corruption with its domino like effect, has the potential to exacerbate other existing challenges and de-stabilises efforts in good governance and sustainable development. One such challenge that we face as a region and which is particularly vulnerable to corruption is the area of climate action and climate financing. 
 
The impacts of climate change are affecting our infrastructure, ecosystems, livelihoods and economies whilst the resulting sea level rise is becoming an ever-increasing threat to our low-lying coastal areas. Climate change is threatening our very homes and our sovereignty. This is why we have invested so much into developing mechanisms to build resilience to address climate change as individual states and as a region. As we know, completely financing our own efforts in mitigating and reversing the effects of climate change is just beyond our economic respective capabilities; which leads to why our countries have recognized the need for and welcomed the provision of climate financing from more developed countries for our climate action efforts.  Whilst, climate financing from more developed States is laudable, there is some room for concern for our region. Even though our countries are some of the worst and more seriously affected by climate change, we receive the lowest amount when it comes to climate financing. According to a report on “Aggregate Trends of Climate Finance Provided and Mobilised by Developed Countries in 2013-2020”, released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD), countries in Oceania received USD0.5 billion in climate financing aid which made up 1% of the total funds disbursed as climate finance for that period.  
 
The region which received the most aid for the same period is made up of countries that, according to a brief on Climate Finance and Corruption released by the Chr. Michelsen Institute, are among the riskiest places in the world for corruption. This means that there is a direct correlation between climate financing aid and higher risks of corruption. Our region is lobbying for more climate financing aid. There is no doubt that we need more aid. However, we must also ensure that we also have the anti-corruption mechanisms in place to ensure good governance and proper use of the aid that is afforded to us as climate finance. Climate change, and its negative impacts, is too big a challenge for us to allow any resources that can be used to mitigate or reverse the same to be wasted through corruption.
 
Another challenge that we collectively face and which can particularly be aggravated by corruption is environmental pollution of our lands and waters.  Not only is this alarming for us in terms of our livelihoods, everyday existence and the future of our children, but it is also concerning for our unique cultures. As Pacific peoples, our identity is tied to our lands and to our waters. Our origin stories are woven into our mountain ranges, our ancestral trees, our totem animals, our rivers, our coral reefs and our Ocean. Therefore, we must ensure that corruption does not impede our conservation policies for the protection of our lands, endangered species of flora and fauna and our waters. We must ensure that domestically, our legal frameworks do not allow for any loopholes that would let corrupt individuals or unscrupulous corporations take advantage of our already vulnerable ecosystems for their financial gain. As a region we must band together to share information, knowledge, best practices and expertise to assist in preventing corruption that affects our environments. Again, I urge our countries to unite to fight against corruption to ensure that our efforts in common areas of interest and concern do not go to waste. 
 
In our region, each country has its own unique way of identifying, combatting, and preventing corruption. Each of our countries would also have its fair share of challenges when it comes to individual anti-corruption efforts. Some countries have implemented anti-corruption mechanisms that are slightly more stringent and advanced, in terms of years of operation, than others. 
 
Thus, after looking through the Conference programme at the groundbreaking topics that will be covered as well as the distinguished cadre of panelists who will be sharing their experiences and expertise over the next two days, I am greatly encouraged that this Conference will, not only build on what our regional leaders have already committed to through the Teieniwa Vision and serve as the nexus for a united regional effort against corruption, but also serve as a platform for the sharing of knowledge and best practices in the fight against corruption throughout the region.
 
At a domestic level in Fiji, our anti-corruption efforts are spearheaded by FICAC which was statutorily established on 4 April 2007 before we ratified the UNCAC, without reservations, on 14 May 2008. For more than a decade, FICAC has not only been responsible for Fiji’s reactive approach to corruption through the investigation and prosecution of public sector corruption and bribery offences but it has also been responsible for Fiji’s proactive approach to corruption.  Through its proactive anti-corruption function, the Commission is responsible for educating the people of Fiji on the evils and impacts of corruption as well as designing and implementing programs and tools that can be used by the public sector, private businesses, civil society, youths and everyday Fijians to identify, report, prevent and combat corruption. Throughout this Conference it is my hope that participants will not only learn of how the Commission has been fulfilling its statutory duties to deter corruption through investigating and prosecuting corruption and bribery related offences, but that participants will also be encouraged by how the Commission has been trying to foster the strong participation of all sectors in Fijian society in anti-corruption efforts over the last 16 years. 
 
Further, in keeping with the theme of the conference of “Fostering Regional Cooperation for Addressing Corruption towards Good Governance and Sustainable Development in Pacific Island
Countries”, I would like to reiterate that, not only is State participation at a regional level needed to effectively address corruption, but the State must also encourage the participation of the private sector and civil society in the fight against corruption. 
 
Anti-corruption needs the combined efforts of the public sector, private sector, civil society and every citizen, no matter how young or small and no matter their background. Corruption does not discriminate. Thus, we cannot afford to discriminate against who should or can be involved in anticorruption work and who should not be involved. 
 
A free and fair media is vital to how society views or attaches importance to the fight against corruption and their role in the same. Private sector companies and employers are vital in encouraging their people and stakeholders to conduct business with integrity and put measures for ethical business dealings in place. Just as importantly, Civil Society and Non-Governmental organisations, whether they operate domestically, regionally or globally, have a reach and relationship with different groups in society that are vital in encouraging all peoples to stand up together against corruption. 
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is imperative that we include the youths of our countries in the continued fight against corruption. If we are to carry out our duties as stewards of our children and youths’ futures, we need to ensure that we practice anti-corruption now, that we teach them about anticorruption immediately and involve them in anti-corruption efforts. This is so that when it comes time for them to lead our countries and our region – good governance is already second nature to them. The fight against corruption will take up a lot of resources and involving children and youths in the fight not only guarantees fresh new ideas and innovative contributions from their perspectives, but it also secures an abundance of a resource that most of us always wish that we had more of – and that resource is energy!
 
In conclusion, I am firm in my belief that, with the concerted effort of all sectors of society from each Pacific Island Country present today, we will be able to take the fight the against corruption to the next level after this Conference. Just as we have united to fight against many common challenges that plague us as a region, the time has now come for us to unite and build each other up in the fight against corruption. We are the Children of the Pacific and just as this great ocean surrounds us – it also unites us. So, in that spirit, let us all contribute positively to the robust discussions over the course of the next two days and take advantage of all the learning and networking opportunities that will be afforded to us. I know that one day our countries, our region and our future generations will thank us for the good work that we have begun here today. 
 
On that note, I would like to urge us to consider making this conference an annual one that will allow us to continuously touch base, share knowledge, re-look at relevancy and best practices on anti-corruption in the future.  I would also like to take this time to wish all the panelists and participants well for the 2 days of Conference.  Please take time to meet the people, witness our cultures and traditions, taste our cuisine and appreciate Fiji!
 
May God bless you all and May God bless our great Blue Pacific continent.
 
Vinaka vakalevu and thank you.