UN: PNG can recoup losses

PAPUA New Guinea can boost its efforts in fighting corruption by recovering its assets lost through corrupt practices, United Nations country co-ordinator David McLachln-Karr said.
Speaking at an event on Tuesday to mark the Anti-Corruption Day, he said money or resources stolen through corruption could be retrieved for national development purposes if PNG could utilise the UN convention against corruption treaty.
Today is the UN’s Anti-Corruption Day.
He said international co-operation through the treaty was one major step in preventing the loss of national resources which could be used to develop the country.  
He said PNG was a rich country and committed to achieving the medium development goals but progress continued to be variable. 
“It is essential that all assets due to the Government are collected, properly expended and used in the interests of the public. Money that is lost to corruption cannot be used to improve lives of the people,” he said.
PNG was the first country in the Pacific to sign the UN convention against corruption in 2007.
He cited sections of the Convention on how to prevent corruption, criminalise corruption, recover assets stolen through corruption and international cooperation to fight corruption.
 “The convention recognises this and focuses on practical actions to assist countries. This approach is a major breakthrough in tackling corruption,” he said.