By Kevin Pamba
THE country’s political and administrative elite has failed to deal with widespread corruption that is becoming a major killer in Papua New Guinea, a business leader said.
Joint chief executive officer of Nasfund Rod Mitchell told the 10th annual business ethics symposium of Divine Word University last Friday that political leaders and the elite had paid lip service to the fight against endemic corruption.
“Attempts to deal with corruption, through the political process and by the elites, have been almost non-existent with paper-thin commitment to meet this serious challenge head on.”
He said six Commissions of Inquiry, costing the state millions of kina, were held in the last 10 years “but not one successful prosecution of any of the findings despite the serious matters being raised”.
“The inertia of dealing effectively with white collar and high level corruption has been shown in the recent high profile Taiwan-gate and US$40 million Singapore scandal where the matters were simply ignored with the only moral outrage being these matters had dared surfaced.”
Mitchell said similarly, the Ombudsman Commission had come under intense political pressure. He said the attempt to kill Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek last December was met with embarrassing silence.
Mitchell said the abuse of parliamentary democracy was a worrying trend, compounded by the trend to stifle debate in parliament by using the speaker to rule questions out of order.
“Similarly, parliamentary business is too often adjourned for lack of quorum or lack of house business – all very hard to understand in a country that continues to face exceedingly difficult social challenges.”
Mitchell said the recent controversial reappointment of Sir Paulias Matane as governor-general left nothing but further suspicion in the minds of many. He said in this case, “expediency overrode clear open process”.
“And, of course, the recent adjournment of parliament now means that the constitution, on the minimum number of sitting days, has been breached for the second time in as many years.”
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Paulias Matane recently collapsed and was taken to hospital.
Paulias Matane recently collapsed and was taken to hospital. Serves him right for being a hypocrite, leading fight against corruption walk and the "Chit Chat" program on EMTV. His sulu came off and he was almost naked on the day when he was to be reinstated as Governor General.
Yes, it really is a shame. I had a lot of respect for Paulias
Yes, it really is a shame. I had a lot of respect for Paulias Matane. He was an icon and a beacon of hope for many Papua New Guineans. In principle he should have refused the post because due process was not followed. But it seems greed for position and power overcame honesty, integrity, good governance and it seems common sense. What a shame!
The Governor General (current incumbent)??? No! No! No! No!
The Governor General (current incumbent)??? No! No! No! No! Lost confidence in him. A real hypocrite. When is his next walk against corruption? boohooohooo.
Paulias Matane is officially a disgrace! The next 'walk against
Paulias Matane is officially a disgrace! The next 'walk against corruption' will be a very very quiet one if this guy leads it again.
He had an opportunity he never ever had in his entire life to stand up and say no to corruption. He should have simply refused to accept his own reappointment until it was proven beyond all reasonable doubt that Parliament did not follow due process in appointing him.
What a hypocrite!
Sir Odious Impropriety has always been a posturing buffoon.
Sir Odious Impropriety has always been a posturing buffoon.