Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC)

Prime Minister James Marape called attention to the absolute need for the Government to address the “cancer of corruption” in the country and hastened the Committee to immediately move the process along before Parliament rises for the National General Elections this year.

Interim chairman of ICAC, Thomas Eluh, said they will be vigorously driving particularly in the area of education.

“We would like to target the younger generation in schools. To educate them about the evils of corruption with the hope of winning their hearts and minds at an early age in life so that they can become better citizens and advocators.

“The campaign against corruption must be placed at the top of the agendas of our societies. Unless corruption is checked, it will poison our ways of life and corrode standards,” said Chairman of TIPNG, Peter Aitsi. 

“At TIPNG, we welcome this law and the eventual establishment of the ICAC in our country. It is our hope that this body will further empower people in PNG to take action against corruption and work to protect the integrity of the people, society and nation of Papua New Guinea.

The EU says this achievement is a ‘first promising step on a long road’.   

“Adopting the legislation is essential, but not sufficient,” it stated.

“To make it work, ICAC will further need real independence, bylaws and regulations, qualified staff and funding. In this respect, the EU stands ready to provide a helping hand through its Partnership for Good Governance Program, which provides 100 million Kina for different activities, including the fight against corruption.

The Minister for Justice and Attorney General says there is already a National Action Plan against corruption in place, which now needs actioning.

The protection of whistle-blowers and the establishment of an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) are two important aspects that need to be addressed.

The Deputy Prime Minister says the simple reality is that all corrupt conduct involves more than one person so if people are not afraid to be whistle-blowers then it will be a quicker and cheaper way to deal with corruption. 

This was revealed by the Secretary for the Department of Justice and Attorney General during the TIPNG Annual Walk Against Corruption on Sunday.

Transparency International PNG holds annual Walk Against Corruption to raise funds for programs to address acts of corruption in the country.

The walk on June 9^th raised K165,000 for the TIPNG operations, but TIPNG alone cannot eradicate the problem. It needs the whole community to fight this disease called corruption.

Transparency International PNG says to date, the ICAC bill has not been passed. It is still overdue for tabling in Parliament.

“The ICAC is intended to be an independent constitutional body that will have powers to investigate, arrest and prosecute cases of corruption in both the public and private sector, working alongside existing law enforcement agencies,” said TIPNG Policy and Advocacy Manager, Yuambari Haihuie.

 The committee will consider it and then report to the Parliament before there is any opportunity for debate on the proposed law.

The Organic Law will contain the full details of how the ICAC will operate.

 ICAC will be headed by a commissioner and two deputy commissioners who shall be appointed through an appointments committee.

 The composition of the appointments committee will be provided for in the new Organic Law.