Many public servants show real commitment

I SERVED as media advisor under Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc when he was Chief Secretary (Jan 2012 – Feb 2016) and in that time I met many public servants who were very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and inspired to contribute to the development of this great country.
They were dedicated men and women, inspired not just by a leader who led by example, but also by their innermost desire to make a personal contribution to bring change.
They ensured the public service did not shut down when the political leadership changed all of a sudden in Aug 2011.
Public servants know deep in their heart that they are there to serve the people, not political masters.They did not frustrate service delivery during the political impasse period.
The record amount of legislations passed by the O’Neill/Dion Government could not have come about without them working tirelessly behind the scenes.
The successful implementation of the Alotau Accord in four years is another example of their excellent efforts.
During the Leadership Summit in February, public servants representing many districts and provinces delivered glowing accounts of how the government’s policies were bringing positive and transformational changes to rural areas.
They spoke of how teachers, nurses, policemen, and agriculture extension officers were at the forefront of these changes, often under trying and very difficult circumstances.
It is in this vein that I find your editorial “Change needed in public service” published yesterday very distasteful.
The assertion in the editorial that “public servants are despised by the wider community which sees an inefficient and ineffective public service as a major stumbling block to development in PNG” is completely misplaced.
I have traveled to many remote government stations like Kandrien (West New Britain), Bolubolu (Milne Bay), Sialum (Morobe), Koinambe (Jiwaka) and Kware in Pangia, Southern Highlands.
And on each occasion I met public servants who just go about their businesses of delivering service without making a fuss about it.
If in the last few months the public service in Waigani has indeed become “dysfunctional, weak and ineffective” as suggested in your column, then it is a serious cause for concern.
The Government must act swiftly and decisively before this disease eats into and completely destroys the public service.

Daniel Korimbao
Port Moresby