Walk against corruption a long one

 PAPUA New Guinea in many regards is a vibrant democracy that is considered a growing third world economy. 

After just under 38 years of independence the nation has developed in many areas, and we can be thankful for a good number of things. 

The mineral and oil and gas resources being harnessed especially over the last decade has seen PNG enjoy many positive reviews in terms of its earnings. 

Governments for the first time have the money to make real changes that will affect the country positively. 

However with such an abundant source of revenue and all the effects this has had on the economy this country is very much one of contrasts, of imbalanced growth where a minority seems to be growing richer while the masses continue to be disadvantaged in every conceivable way. 

Transparency International PNG has been in existence for 17 years. According to its website, the body is a non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to fighting corruption both internationally and at the national level. 

It was formed in 1993 and immediately generated enormous interest and support. There are now more than 100 chapters worldwide who work both within their own countries, and form networks with other chapters to pursue our ideals at an international level. 

The late Sir Anthony Siaguru was a leading advocate for the fight against corruption which has become a major obstacle to development and advancement in this country. 

He was a founding member of TI’s presence in this country and along with other members of the corporate and government worked to shine a light on questionable and unethical practices that seemed to be occurring unabated in PNG society. 

TIPNG was formed in 1997 by a group of concerned citizens, headed by the Siaguru, with the aim of combating corruption and promoting openness, honesty and accountability in public and private dealings. 

They did this by speaking out on issues of public interest particularly how the government (through the passage of laws that engendered corruption and corrupt practices and apparent abuse of procedures, laws and funds for the benefit of a few) and departments conducted themselves. 

The body also disseminates information it researches on the extent of corruption in PNG. 

However rosy a picture the government of the day wants to paint of the country the fact remains that mismanagement, misappropriation, misapplication and abuse of public money and the disregard for proper and ethical practice in handling it has is the major impediments to development. 

The continuous lack of services (health, roads, law and order, schools) to the rural majority, the poor quality of services that people in the urban settings have to endure must be cause to make a stand. 

On the weekend concerned citizens, businesses and students from primary, secondary and the tertiary level took to the streets for the annual Walk Against Corruption through the streets of Port Moresby and Lae. 

If there is one thing that can hinder the fight against corruption in this country it is apathy and indifference. 

The Walk maybe done once a year but it serves to unite the people in one voice and is shows that some people are actively concerned. More than a thousand people, mostly university students and youth were involved in the Lae’s walk on Saturday while a similar number participated in Port Moresby. 

While it is encouraging to see that people are getting involved in such activism, with the scale of corruption and the damage it has wrought on the country one would think more people would be compelled to go out on the streets for this one day of the year to send the message. 

If we can get up to 20,000 for the annual Trukai Fun Run and thousands at the gate to welcome a visiting Kangaroos team why is it so hard to garner interest in an issue that is much closer to home? 

Attitude makes a world of difference and presently judging from the numbers that turn out for the walk, the people do not consider the fight against corruption to be as important or pressing as other issues. 

This should be of great concern because no great cause was ever won with so little support.