Amendment may institutionalise graft

I AM compelled to make a rebuttal in light of proposed changes to the Public Service Commission (PSC) Act to grant full autonomy to governors of each province to appoint provincial administrators.
I do not envisage this as the way forward.
This is not a smart idea as the national go­vernment is legalising corruption at the provincial level.  
Whoever proposed this lacks un­derstanding.
Should governors be given full power and authority to appoint pro­vincial administrators, I bet they would not follow established ap­pointment protocols and procedures to get the best candidates.
It would be politically motivated and such appointments would go to cohorts and cronies.
Candidates with the right calibre would not stand any chance of becoming provincial administrators.
Whoever wants to be the provincial administrator must be prepared to spend a great deal in supporting a provincial candidate to take responsibility of the province’s purse.
It is a bizarre move that is destructive and corrupt.
There is nothing evil with the current arrangement and it is ideal ex­cept for political interference.
It makes provincial administrators and governors accountable to the National Executive Council (NEC) and the PSC.
There is check and balance to a certain extent and appointments by the NEC are at least appointed on merit after an exhaustive screening process.
It also makes governors accoun­table, ensuring that shortlisted candidates meet the PSC’s checklist.
Amending the PSC Act would give a perception that corruption will be legally institutionalised in the pro­vinces.
If the sponsor of this proposal is determined to pursue this destructive course, the amendment should be uniform for all state agencies so that respective ministers can also appoint their departmental secreta­ries and CEOs at will.
Otherwise, despite reform after reform and law after law, nothing will work.
Rather, laws are enacted to en­-rich leaders by milking the cow dry while they have the opportunity.
Members of parliament will be accountable to the people of PNG for making laws that are destructive in nature.

N. Waiyo
Via email