Bribery hitting the poor hardest
The National, Monday 25th March 2013
TO get something done in government departments is the hardest for the poor but the easiest for the rich
and the politicians.
While the rich and the top class can get their assignments done either through their lawyers or political connections, the poor and weak are hit hardest by the public servants who expect nothing but bribes and facilitating money.
This expectation has grown wide like a shark’s mouth.
It has weakened the public service and now a simple job cannot be done without “lunch money”.
When you give lunch money, the “engine starts”, but to your surprise, it will soon “die” so you have to
keep pushing and refilling with lunch money until your job is done.
Public servants fail to realise that they feed themselves and their families with money they obtained from the poor people who unwillingly give bribes with tears and hatred in their hearts.
A man who fills his hands with bribes is termed as an evil man, brings trouble on his household and curses himself.
Those who give bribes are also just as responsible.
Had it not been for the expectations and delaying tactics by the public servants, there would have been no bribery.
If the service required is important and there is no desire to corrupt the person soliciting the bribe, then I believe we can tell that person we are Christians and explain that the Bible tells us that a man who gains riches through bribery is known as
an evil man and that his household
will be “troubled”.
In so doing, we put the responsibility fairly and squarely on that
person to choose to act righteously.
In my view, if the public servant
still demands bribes, then we are free to give it to him without any condemnation from the word.
Bribery and delay tactics are a hindrance to national development and progress.
Can the government tighten up our laws and punish individuals who solicit and obtain bribes?
Can we all join hands and do not give “lunch money” easily to any public servants, policemen or anyone for that matter?
Let us all join hands and serve
our countrymen and our country with pride and without bribery.
Andrew Dupaim
Port Moresby