Change laws to deal with public servants

THERE are many of us in the public service who read both daily newspapers about senior public servants in Waigani and provincial administrations being implicated in corruption but continue to hold onto their positions.
This is not good as it brings discredit and tarnishes the integrity and reputation of offices that they occupy.
Once a senior public servant is charged by the police for corruption, the Public Service Commission should write and advise the officer to vacate office until his/her name is cleared by the courts.
They should not wait until they are found guilty by the courts to vacate office.
In fact, a small clause should be factored into the initial contract they sign that should spell out clearly that if they are charged, they should vacate office immediately.
This should be done to maintain the integrity of the office as it is the people’s office.
In that way, they will not be seen to be using the office and its resources to defend their cases in an open court.
The suspect should be immediately relieved from his/her duties while on pay so that quality time can be given to him/her to prepare legal papers.
One of the conditions of employment signed initially when accepting appointment is to step aside voluntarily in an event when an official corruption charge is brought up against him/her.
If the officer fails to do so, the Public Service Commission will write to him/her, with a notice to step aside.
On the same note, the court should use its discretion to instruct funds from Nasfund and Nambawan Super to pay court fines or refund monies misused.
If public servants fear losing their final entitlements, we will see them being transparent in their dealing and improving their code of conduct in office.

James Spencer Safanota,
Upper Bena