Transparency International PNG (TIPNG)

The members elected Peter Aitsi as chair, Secretary - Michelle Hau’ofa, Treasurer - Akae Beach and 11 others, including; Brian Alois, Lawrence Stephens, Jerome Sesega, Belinda Kanau, Philip Samar, Paul Barker, Mary Udu, Richard Kassman, OBE, Christopher Elphick and Michael McWalter, OL were returned as directors.

With the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday 2nd June, and a further 14-day extension of the SOE, Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) is now calling on the government to demonstrate the political will required to ensure they keep their promise to be accountable to the people of Papua New Guinea.  

TIPNG Chairman Peter Aitsi has commended the Government on taking the first step towards breaking a trend of administrations evading public scrutiny that has plagued PNG emergency public procurement in recent years.  

“It is very encouraging to note that our Government has now made this commitment to table a fully audited COVID-19 SOE funding report at the earliest available opportunity. This demonstrates that they are taking the responsibility to set a better example in the way that emergency public procurement can be managed,” Aitsi said.

This ranking was announced by the chief executive officer of Transparency International PNG, Arrianne Kassman, at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby in the presence of Prime Minister James Marape, Ministers of Government including Police Minister and Member for Madang Bryan Kramer and Minister for Health & HIV/AIDS, Jelta Wong.

Kassman said this is also PNG’s ranking in the previous year survey. 

Third and fourth year Law Students; Rhonda Tevlone, Melvia Lyandenge and Alois Sinen, officially joined TIPNG’s LIP on December 2^nd for an internship which will continue from December through to February.

TIPNG Executive Director, Arianne Kassman, welcomed the interns during their orientation on Monday, adding that their input over the next eight weeks would not only be crucial in reinforcing the functions of TIPNG, but would also provide them with a unique opportunity for growth as legal professionals.

TIPNG has received accreditation from the Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC) to field their Observers during the week of polling from 25th-29th November in North and Central Bougainville.

“The observers have been briefed by TIPNG and will be fielded next week, with six observers in Buka and five observers in Arawa.

Though not new to the position, Aitsi has been involved with TIPNG since 1999. He also served as chairman from 2008 to 2010.

Also elected was the Secretary, Michelle Hau’ofa, Treasurer Akae Beach and directors, Brian Alois, Belinda Kanau, Evah Kuamin, Philip Samar, Mary Udu, Jerome Sesega, Lawrence Stephens, Michael McWalter, Christopher Elphick, Philip Samar, Paul Barker and Richard Kassman.

The 2018 audited financial report was also presented at the AGM.

“Prime Minister Marape introduced governance reforms within the Department of Finance when he was Minister, such as the Integrated Finance Management System (IFMS), the establishment of a new National Procurement Commission and the innovative Phones Against Corruption initiative whereby citizens can text reports of corruption to the 16321 SMS service,” said TIPNG in their statement.

This is to ensure that the Government is more open and accessible to the people to ensure quality service delivery.

As part of its role as CSO Co-Chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Papua New Guinea, TIPNG coordinated a CSO update meeting earlier this week at its office in Boroko, National Capital District.

The meeting was attended by representatives from The Voice Inc, Oxfam PNG, the Goroka District Office and the PNG Forest Certification Inc, who offered suggestions on how best to implement Papua New Guinea’s National Action Plan 2018 -2020.

TIPNG encouraged the people of Goroka town to report corruption to its Advocacy & Legal Advice Center (ALAC).

The ALAC is a community service that gives free legal advice and assistance to people report instances of corruption that they encounter.

“TIPNG strongly believes that an important part of the fight against corruption is for victims or witnesses of corruption to speak out and report corruption,” said the anti-rot agency.

Corruption complaints that were registered in Goroka will be receiving free legal assistance from TIPNG through: