By Ronald Tito'ona
HONIARA (Solomon Star/Pacific Media Watch): The Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) will merge with a number of non-government organisations to form a partnership in the fight against corruption.
This follows the successful training on anti-corruption reporting last week for local journalists in Honiara.
MASI president Charles Kadamana conducted a speech at the end of the end of the four-day workshop last Thursday.
“From this workshop, MASI will create partnership with other organisations that have the same interest, which is to fight against corruption in this country," Kadamana told the audience.
“As a body that looks after the media in Solomon Islands, MASI will rely on journalists to report on anti-corruption for better results on an effort to weed out corruption. Therefore, as journalists we must sing the same tune, and the tune is to fight corruption.
“Solomon Islands is our country, so fighting corruption is everybody’s business.
“So journalists, I urge you to go out and use those skills you have learnt to good use,” the president said.
He added that the workshop would be beneficial to media practitioners and stakeholders that were involved, such as Transparency Solomon Islands, United Nations Development Programme and other NGOs.
Transparency cure for corruption
He also acknowledged particularly the UNDP in providing funds that contributed towards the success of the workshop.
UNDP’s Peace Building Project fund manager Angus Wandi also made an address, and said UNDP was looking to partner with MASI in the fight against corruption in the country.
“There is a cure for corruption and it is transparency. This is where the media plays the important role," said Wandi.
“The UNDP is very grateful, that this training is targeted to all of us, and we are also honoured to be partnering with MASI in this training.
“Because we are really hoping and expecting that this is a beginning of the work to promote transparency, to promote integrity, to promote anti-corruption, in Solomon Islands in particular the communities in various provinces, and globally.”
The project manager Wandi said that it was not only the media that could play that role, but everybody could play a similar role, including the NGOs.
“We really hope that this is the beginning of the process of cooperation and partnership, and we hope that there are follow up trainings, and we can do this collectively,” Wandi said.
Meanwhile, Transparency Solomon islands chief executive officer Ruth Liloqula also said her organisation is now also anticipating partnership with MASI.
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