Poor turnout irks anti-graft official

INDEPENDENT Commission Against Corruption (Icac) interim chairman Thomas Eluh says last Friday’s International Anti-Corruption Day event in Port Moresby did not attract as many people as expected, especially from the public sector.
“Most of the line agencies and agency heads failed to turn up to reaffirm their stand against corruption,” he said in a statement.
Eluh said the commemoration of the day was purposely for everyone to get together and recognise the urgency and the need for collaborative action in addressing corruption.
“Corruption has penetrated all systems and processes of the Government, the public services, the provincial governments, the wards, villages, communities, and even the private sector,” he said.
“And if we do not make a stand against corruption, we may not be able to meet the United Nations sustainable development goals and the country’s Vision 2050.
“PNG still ranks as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, according to the Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index. This is an embarrassment to us as Papua New Guineans; we cannot continue to turn a blind eye on the evils of corruption that is eating into the fabrics of our society.
“To win this war against corruption, we need to be united, starting from the Government right down to the communities.”
Chief Secretary Ivan Pomaleu said combating and preventing corruption cannot be left to one agency alone.
“Cooperation is required from civil society organisations, non-government organisations, educational institutions and State bodies to take the cue and foster alliances and work together in combating and preventing corruption,” he said.