The appointment of three top positions of Commission and two deputy commissioners at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is moving steadily.
Yesterday the appointments were made, although no names are being announced at this point until letters of formalization have been exchanged.
As Prime Minister, James Marape oversaw the appointments at the ICAC Appointments Committee meeting; he convened in his capacity as Chairman and called it “a historic decision”. Marape received the report containing the recommendations from the Independent Interview Panel, headed by Chairman Peter Aitsi.
“It has taken us seven months for the process to be completed. We needed to do it above politics in a fair, open and transparent manner. An independent recruitment agency was appointed, well over 229 applications received both locally and internationally, and processed through an independent appointments committee headed by Transparency International chairman Peter Aitsi and assisted by the Department of Personnel Management Secretary,” he stated.
Six names had gone through the Appointment Committee and three were picked.
“The panel is confident the process undertaken has been rigorous and comprehensive, culminating today with the handing over of the final report and recommendations to the Appointments Committee. We commend the report to the Appointments Committee and thank them for the opportunity to be involved in this most important task” said panel chair Peter Aitsi.
The appointment of the ICAC Commissioners is a critical step forward to formally establishing the entity and will go a long way in addressing the scourge of corruption in PNG.
"We have selected the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners who in my view have no link to anyone in PNG and who will assist us in this fight. There is no point in me taking back more for PNG in resources of our country if we have leaks in our systems, hence the need for ICAC to stop wastage of our public funds,” said PM Marape.
“We will also pass the Proceeds of Crime Act, including the Undisclosed Wealth provisions my government included to ICAC to administer. With the Whistle Blowers Act in full operation, we hope to start prosecuting corruption as soon as possible.”