By VERONICA MANUK
GOVERNOR-General Sir Paulias Matane has called for corruption to be fought in every office and financial institution in the country.
Allegations of corruption in Vulupindi House and at the National Housing Corporation have made headlines in the media in recent times and the Governor-General decided to voice his concern about corruption last weekend.
Sir Paulias said PNG is a Christian country and everything people do should be in line with Christian principles.
He said this last Saturday during the opening ceremony of the East New Britain Savings and Loan (ENBS&L) new double-story office complex worth K3.5 million, located in Kokopo town.
The building was officially opened by Sir Paulias.
With him were Governor of Bank of PNG Wilson Kamit, Governor of East New Britain Leo Dion, former member for Kokopo Sir Rabbie Namaliu, former Gazelle MP Sinai Brown and Gazelle MP Malakai Tabar.
Sir Paulias said many financial institutions had collapsed and Government offices were not performing to the expected standards because of corruption.
He said everybody should work together to stop corruption and warned those involved in such corrupt practices that they would never escape law.
Sir Paulias was proud of the ENBS&L achievement and said that should encourage other similar societies to follow.
He said it was important that industrious people should be given every opportunity to use their resources to the fullest.
“And that is by encouraging them to save and loan from the institution which allows them to control and sustain their finances and expand their productivity,” Sir Paulias said.
Meanwhile, Mr Dion said ENBS&L society had become a premier icon for the province and a model society in New Guinea Islands and PNG.
“It is soundly-based financially and it is well managed ... it enjoys a high standing in the community and in the finance sector and based on the concept of local ownership and management,” he said.
Mr Dion said the influence of the society on the people’s lives had been evident through the payment of school fees, housing loans, vehicle and agriculture loans and many products the society provided.
Mr Dion said his government would continue to support the society.