Let’s stop the cycle of corruption

IT is no secret that corruption (using one’s official position for private gain) is rampant in the Papua New Guinea public service.
There are many causes, types, and effects of corruption.
Bribery is one type of corruption that involves two willing participants – “bribe giver” (usually private person) and “bribe taker” (usually public official).
I believe that corruption is not natured, but nurtured.
Nobody is born corrupt or bribe-taker.
This article focuses on how an innocent and vulnerable public servant can be nurtured to be corrupt.
Many who depend on government services are sometimes frustrated at the slow service provided by the Government and resort to grease the wheels, hoping that the wheels of the public service machinery would turn to their favour expeditiously.
While this may appear to produce the result intended, it does so, but for the moment.
It has long-term consequences.
The moment you grease an official with some lunch money to do what he/she is otherwise paid to do, you sow a seed of corruption.
You open their eyes to see that lunch can be afforded outside of their normal pay.
That seed grows into motivation.
You help that officer embark on and lead a lifestyle that their meagre salary could not have afforded.
Over time, the price increases as their insatiable appetite for side money grows.
The colleagues observe the lifestyle of the bribe taker.
They feel that they are missing out on something.
They see the same opportunity available to them.
They see that the risks of being caught are slim and the rewards are plenty.
They start using the same formula by sitting on their routine jobs and slowing things down, hoping that a willing participant who wants fast service would grease them too.
If your service requires several corrupt officials, the price you pay increases because you have to pay everyone in the chain.
And because those who (bribe giver) bribe are getting faster service while everybody else is waiting in the queue, it creates an uneven playing field, forcing others to join the bribe givers’ club.
Soon, it becomes a trend.
The wheels of public service machinery do not turn until you grease them sufficiently.
It started with grease, and unfortunately, it has to be greased continuously after that to keep it running.
The cost of business increases as well.
Aside from spending more money to produce a system that works on grease money (corruption), you can be criminally prosecuted if caught.
It does come at such a considerable price.
It doesn’t pay to bribe a government official.
If you are one of them who usually pays government officials to procure their services, please stop, now that you know the consequences.
If you have been paying Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) officers, please stop.
At IRC, we are initiating new projects to improve our service delivery.
We are widening our detection mechanisms as well to catch those who do the wrong thing.
Help weed out corruption.
Help clean the wheels of our service delivery machinery to operate without grease money.
Let’s stop the cycle of corruption!
You can start doing some good by reporting those who frustrate the services and/or seek favours to do their jobs.
Call our toll free number: 180 1472 or telephone: 321 0041; or email: [email protected].
Your identity will remain confidential.

Sam Koim,
Commissioner General