By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
UN GATE, Sept 18 – After UN President of the General Assembly John Ashe was indicted for taking bribes from Chinese government businessman Ng Lap Seng, and died before trial, the UN's lone reform was to say that future PGAs would disclose how their office and travel and staff members were funded.
And now, even that insufficient reform is not being complied with. And the Press that asks about ongoing UN corruption is banned.
On September 16 Inner City Press wrote to new PGA Abdulla Shahid's spokesperson Monica Grayley, "state when you will put on the PGA website the financial and staffing information committed to after the indictment of then PGA John Ashe."
It asked for confirmation of receipt, and a copy of the list of speakers for the UNGA High Level Week beginning September 21.
More than 48 hours later, neither was provided, nor any response on what Shahid, Maldives' foreign minister, will do to ensure access to "his" UNGA by the Press which asks these questions.
Instead, there was a canned statement about "the Artwork, World in Progress II - "Just like the artwork, ‘Our Common Agenda’ reminds us of our obligations towards future generations. As President of the UN General Assembly, I commit to working towards these obligations; I will work hard to bring together the best of humanity, to offer the best solutions, and to present a more hopeful, unifying message. No doubt, today’s event and Saype’s impressive artwork contribute to this narrative, representing a United Nations that delivers for people, for planet, and for prosperity.” With censorship and no transparency
There is a pending application to the UN Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, acknowledged (unlike PGA Shahid's Grayley) but not acted on.
So on September 17, with the "Team" section of PGA Shahid's website still empty, Inner City Press wrote to two other staffers in the PGA's office, Carl Mercer Lead, Communications, Advocacy & Speechwriting and Ahmed Salman Zaki, Executive Assistant to the PGA. Watch this site.
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