Promote Zero Corruption on Violence says Rouse

November 17, 2004 -(femLINKPacific) The promotion of zero-tolerance for corruption is vital to good governance says Prue Rouse the Vice President of the Royal Commonwealth Society of Fiji “A transparent and accountable government, together with freedom of expression, encourages the full participation of its citizen in the democratic process”.

Speaking on the topic “Good Governance, Security and Peace” at the second day of the Fiji Multi Stakeholders Consultation on women and decision-making, Rouse said that corruption is a cancerous and destructive canker and empowerment is vital:

“In a democracy we are empowered by speaking out forcefully against corruption and by desisting at every turn corrupt opportunity that come our way and revealing them”.

She said there is a need to encourage citizens and officers of the Police force to be proactive in the matter:

“Corruption saps the lifeblood of a country-our country,Fiji. TheFijipoor will become ever poorer, there will be more of them and we ourselves are impoverished in the moral sense by allowing its existence in our midst”.

Rouse highlighted why it is vital for the each Commonwealth Country’s Parliaments, Executives and Judiciaries should promote and protect the fundamental Human rights and the entrenchment of good governance based on the highest standards of honesty, probity and accountability:

“There is a need for both (Parliament and Judiciary) to properly resourced by the state to carry out their functions effectively. Court proceedings need to be open to the public, and superior court decisions should be published and accessible to the public and be given in a timely manner”.

Peace follows when we feel secure, said Rouse, as she reminded participants that not only Fiji but also other island nations of the Melanesia sub region are now known as the arc of instability:

“There are now serious internal security problems in Papua New Guinea necessitating the deployment of almost 300 Australian Federal Police Officers and 30 administrators. Nauru is on the brink of bankruptcy, which it has brought upon itself through uncorrected corruption. Bougainville, though stable-is still experiencing profound aftershocks from years of war”.

She pointed out that the major threats of good governance are poverty, lack of accountability and transparency by government officers, lack of integrity and priority in public officials conduct (code of conduct), ignorance of the important role of free media in democracy and public apathy.

Furthermore she said that its important to educate children about their rights, how democracy works and to have knowledge about other nations, other cultures and the possible threats that lurk over the horizon.

From: "femLINKpacific:Media Initiatives for Women" <femlinkpac@connect.com.fj>