Posted By Staff Reporter
By David Hope Ten months after taking power the government of James Marape has completely failed to deliver on its promises to tackle Papua New Guinea’s chronic corruption. James Marape was elected as Prime Minister on the back of a growing wave of discontent over political corruption and the misuse of public funds and the initial signs from the new government were promising. The Public Accounts Committee emerged from the shadows to hold televised hearings into the procurement of medicines and medical supplies in the Department of Health and Secretary Kase was quietly removed. A high-powered Commission of Inquiry was appointed to investigate the disastrous UBS loan scandal. Vocal corruption critic Bryan Kramer was appointed Minister of Police and ex-Task Force Sweep boss Sam Koim took command at the Internal Revenue Commission. Meanwhile, the legislation to establish an Independent Commission Against Corruption was dusted off and brought back to Parliament. But the initial wave of optimism that the Marape government would decisively tackle the chronic corruption that is undermining service delivery and impoverishing the nation has been dashed in the face of overwhelming evidence that in Papua New Guinea it is business as usual.
Government Minister William Duma, who managed to walk away from the Manumanu land scandal without facing any charges despite the weight of the evidence, seems just as immune from any sanction over the Horizon Oil scandal. While the Australian Chief Executive of the oil company has been terminated after the Board described his position as ‘untenable’, Duma has not even been made to step aside while Australian and local police investigate. Meanwhile 38 of 40 Maserati’s which sell for around $140,000 each in Australia are still sitting idle in a warehouse in Port Moresby. Yet the Minister responsible for the purchase, Justin Tkatchenko, who falsely claimed firstly that the cars were being imported at no cost to PNG and then were ‘selling like hot cakes’. Next : PNC Party Vs Pangu Party Note: Let Your Views be heard : Send all your Political Commentaries to us through our email : pngfacts@gmail.com Share this Comments are closed.
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