No enforcement of our laws

THERE are some convicted criminals still in public offices as investigative agencies are too weak to intervene and concerned authorities are not enforcing the law.
Laws shape politics, economies, history and societies in various ways and serves as a mediator between people.
The law also raises important and complex issues concerning equality, fairness and justice.
In Papua New Guinea, under the Public Service Management Act, an individual occupying a top office in a government institution is duty bound to obey the laws regulating public services.
The Government creates laws to safeguard the conduct of a person and deals with civil and criminal proceedings.
Within a country, laws regulate public institutions and territories and, in a democracy, it allows the expression of opinions.
PNG has come of age and, since independence, has performed all her own roles without seeking help from abroad.
Overall, this has been a good thing and has helped shaped our country.
However, Government arms – judiciary, NEC and legislature – are apparently too weak and, along with other Government agencies, they have not been functioning well.
Because of this, and corruption in all levels and arms of Government, the public has lost trust and confidence in these offices.
Corruption by officials creates a mess in their office.
They’re not arrested but an alert into an internal investigation occurs.
Corrupt officials convicted by the courts are allowed to take up administrative positions but remember, by law, convicts are not allowed to be in public office. Allowing a corrupt official back into office only feeds their thirst for money and material things.
A number of similar (corruption) cases and/or criminal cases were thrown out of court because the prosecution lacked the tools or evidence to get a conviction.
If this happens, suspects walk out of court a free person.
People convicted of a crime sitting in public offices show that there was no screening process and investigative agencies are not doing their jobs.
Because of this lax process, people with convictions are allowed to contest in elections and hold public office.
Our laws are not being enforced when it comes to allegations involving those of a higher class.
This creates a huge divide between people.
It’s evident that the law and police treat people according to their social status – ordinary citizens are physically abused and thrown in jail while “high class” citizens are given a warning and a slap on the wrist.
Corruption is eating away at our laws and those that enforce them.
All forms of corruption have infiltrated the branches of Government.
Corruption is essentially the use of public power for private gain.
The first obvious site for such corruption is the public sector.
Corruption in the government rises because our country has a weak judiciary system, as our laws are undermined, and not strong enough to fight corruption.

Nelson Wandi (yuu yan)