EFFECTIVELY combating corruption at all levels and on a sustained basis is a key priority for Papua New Guinea.
And PNG has ramped up legislation in an effort to eradicate corrupt practices which experts say have become part of everyday life.
“We recognize that the country’s security, stability, and sustainable development future must and cannot be held back by corruption unabated,” Richard Masere, Minister of State in the Ministry of Administrative Services, said.
Masere led a 21-member delegation from PNG to the Conference of States Parties (COSP11) on the UN Convention against Corruption in Doha, Qatar.
“The current government’s ongoing positive response has triggered greater collaboration, support and partnerships arrangements between the Government, the non-state actors,’’ he said.
The non-state actors include civil society organizations, bilateral and multilateral development partners, donors and key international partners.
“With the passage of the Whistle-blower Protection Act in 2020, the government is now reviewing the law to provide wider protective mechanisms for people who report corruption,’’ Masere said.
“The Government is also reviewing our Anti-money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing legislative framework in line with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.’’
Some researchers claim that with the absence of regulated national welfare system, PNG’s wantok system helps meet the daily needs of the people. This includes public servants, many of whom survive on borrowed money or bribes.
Corruption is seen as penetrating all levels of PNG society from politics, through business, and law enforcement.
Masere said PNG has been able to mobilize and facilitate capacity building programs for its integrity institutions, judiciary and law enforcement agencies.
“Through this support, we were able to prioritize corruption risk assessments of various national government agencies and provincial governments. Data collected from this exercise will inform our next national strategy,” he said.
“To help engagement at the regional and international level, we welcome UNODC’s decision in establishing an office in Papua New Guinea. This decision has enabled greater support, collaboration and engagement with UNODC and our partners in our ongoing implementation efforts of UNCAC and its Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM),” said Minister Masere.
Marie Jane Fatiaki, Officer in Charge of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Programme Office for Papua New Guinea, welcomed the minister’s acknowledgement of support at the COSP.
“Tackling corruption is truly a whole of society undertaking, and it’s clear that PNG prioritizes implementing this through strong corruption prevention outreach and valuing the contributions made by civil society, shown by their inclusion in the Government’s official delegations,” Fatiaki said.
With additional material supplied by UNDOC