The fight against corruption starts with us – the people, and systems and processes as well as laws and policies – that "sing the same tune" of integrity and high ethical standards.

Those were the words of the Acting Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio in an address last Friday at the International Anti Corruption Day 2022 Forum at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel.

Reflecting on the significance of the occasion and where Samoa sits in the fight against corruption, Tuala said everyone should take time to pause to "recognise the damage that corruption has done to our societies."

"We pause to reflect on our efforts and integrity initiatives; we pause to recognise the damage that corruption has done to our societies, and we pause to re-evaluate and reposition ourselves to do better in the fight against corruption," said the Acting Prime Minister.

"Samoa acceded the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in April 2018. Our accession was the culmination of years of hard work and lessons learned in the anti-corruption and integrity space. 

"It signaled the Government’s commitment to strengthening public trust and citizen confidence in government systems, processes and laws."

In 2018 the Public Service Commission worked with a number of integrity agencies to deliver a "Readiness Report", which Tuala said showed Samoa's intention to accede to the UNCAC. 

"The Report notes that the term Corruption is not defined in Samoa’s Crimes Act 2013. The Act however contains extensive provisions that criminalize corruption in its different forms," said Tuala. 

"The UNCAC also does not provide a specific definition of corruption; this is for each jurisdiction to decide.

"Corruption, as defined by the anti-corruption non governmental organisation Transparency International and the World Bank, is the use of public office for private gain. While limited in scope, it does offer a basic idea of what corruption is."

The Acting Prime Minister said the National Assessment Report identified several reasons as to why Samoa should consider accession and he spoke on what he described as his "top 3" reasons.

"Acceding to the Convention meant we would have an opportunity to further strengthen public confidence and trust in Parliament, Government, institutions and individuals with authority," he said. 

"While we already had the legal and policy frameworks in place which were largely in line with the requirements of the Convention, accession signalled the Government’s commitment to building citizen trust and confidence in our systems and processes, our leadership class, and our decisions.

"Secondly, accession meant an opportunity to further enhance our existing culture of integrity and honesty. Corruption spreads quite quickly, and because employee behaviours and attitudes can change quickly as well, corrupt practices may become a norm and form part of the organizational culture...

"And finally, accession meant an opportunity to further strengthen Samoa’s national, regional, and international reputation. Reputation is an important part of public institutions, if not one of the most important..."

Under the Public Administration Sector Plan, Tuala said the Government made a commitment to develop an Anti-Corruption Strategy. 

"The UNCAC Coordinating Committee is taking the lead on this important work. Making a commitment is one thing; seeing it to action is another," added the Acting Prime Minister. 

"Your Government have made a commitment to reinforce the ethical culture of the Samoa public sector, and this shall be reflected in the abovementioned Strategy.

"The public deserve honest, impartial and ethical public servants. The Government will therefore continue to promote the Values of the Public Service and provide constant reminders of the ‘Code of Conduct’, to deter unethical and corrupt behaviors."

The Acting Prime Minister said before Samoa acceded to the UNCAC in 2018, it was one of a few Pacific Island countries that had not signed up to the convention. 

"It could’ve been because we weren’t in a position to readily accede, as well as government priorities at the time.

"But following our accession, Samoa joined other regional and international countries in fighting corruption locally and internationally, including holding our people who might commit UNCAC crimes outside of Samoa accountable for their actions."