fight
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
Somare will fight corruption
Prom a Port Moresby correspondent Papua New Guinea is acting speedily to suppress corruption, des cribed by Chief Minister Michael Somare as “The disease of develop ing countries”.
Under legislation now being pre pared at his direction, politicians, public servants and businesses will be required to surrender “presents” at a state gift registry.
The Chief Minister’s proposals, presented in a statement to the House of Assembly will result in a tightening up of present legislation by defining a wide range of acts deemed to be corrupt, “Loss of position and lengthy im prisonment seem to me to be very justified in a case where a man or woman has betrayed his or her own people for personal gain”, said Mr Somare.
Pointing out that Papua New Guinea was rich in natural resources and potential for development in partnership with foreign enterprise, Mr Somare revealed that overseas interests had already attempted to re ward senior government decision makers with “tokens of appreciation”.
“I can tell you that in each case the ‘token of appreciation’ was re turned after a brief and firm ‘no thank you’ ”, he said.
The plan for a state gift registry, he explained, would require various investors to furnish a complete list of gifts and include the names of the recipients who were also obliged to make a declaration.
Any company or investor, said Mr Somare, would not be permitted to enter into any form of business arrangements with a New Guinean to whom a gift had been made.
“I believe it is also necessary that through the proper diplomatic chan nels, overseas governments with nationals participating in investment in our country should be informed that a gift from these people will not be tolerated in any form”, he added.
It turned out later that Mr Somare’s actions were mainly directed at Japan ese businessmen, one of whom had given a cabinet minister a cheque for $75,000 (it had been returned), and another who had offered a senior public servant a large diamond. The PNG Government officially com plained to the Japanese Government about the practice.