TIPNG Warns that Koloma sets back Government NID Response
Port Moresby, 14 February 2018 – Transparency International PNG (TIPNG)says that positive steps by the Government to audit the National Identity (NID) Project in response to their campaign is marred by the efforts of National Statistician Roy Koloma which appear intended to evade a police investigation into alleged fraud.
TIPNG, a chapter of the global Transparency International movement, marked its 21st Anniversary in January by identifying 3 key national issues that they would be campaigning for in 2018; these were the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), enabling legislation for citizens’ constitutional right for free access to public information, and lastly resolution for the scandals involving the NID Project.
“In January, TIPNG called for the Government to halt payments to the NID Project until an independent audit was done on the K230m spent by the Department of National Planning, we also called for the head of the National Statistical Office (NSO) Mr. Roy Koloma to step aside whilst investigations of alleged fraud were conducted,” said Mr. Lawrence Stephens, Chairman of TIPNG.
“Subsequently the Deputy Prime Minister and the National Planning Minister responded with promises that an independent committee would be established in February. We are keen to hear the findings of the committee.”
“However, it is now reported that Mr. Koloma has taken what appears to be a deplorable step of attempting to evade the police and apparently demanding that he be given special consideration. TIPNG reminds Mr. Koloma and all citizens that they must comply with the efforts of legal authorities, exercising constitutional powers on behalf of us all, to cooperate when requested to provide information”. Mr. Stephens emphasised. “There is only one law, and it should be applied to all citizens equally, moreover leaders like Mr. Koloma must preserve the integrity of the office they occupy and, if being investigated for serious criminal offences relating to their office, step aside until being cleared. The people of Papua New Guinea demand and deserve accountability.”
Mr Stephens added that the Transparency International Secretariat, in Germany, will be releasing its global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) on February 22nd, an index in which countries are ranked and scored by levels of perceived corruption. “Sadly Papua New Guinea has consistently ranked poorly. However, if the Government and police continue to respond as quickly as seen with the NID saga, then it is inevitable that one day the perception of corruption will decrease and our CPI score will improve. This would be something the Government can rightly tout when hosting events such as the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on Prevention of Corruption happening later this month.”
Preserve the integrity of the Administrative Inquiry into the Manumanu land case
Port Moresby, 7 February 2018 – It is extremely shameful that the Minister for Lands and Physical Planning has needed to report files, important to an Administrative Inquiry launched by the Prime Minister, are missing. It is simply not acceptable that Prime Minister O’Neill and Minister Tkatchenko are prevented from delivering on promises they have made to the nation and shamed by public servants who fail to secure documents essential to delivering of these promises.
Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) calls on the Prime Minister to preserve the integrity of the process he himself started in February 2017 when he announced an administrative inquiry into the Manumanu Land Deal.
“If the inquiry is deficient due to missing documentation, then it is clear that a much more robust investigation, even a Commission of Inquiry, should be established and the matter reviewed appropriate investigators and by the Judiciary,” said Chairman of TIPNG, Mr Lawrence Stephens.
The reported missing Manumanu land files are very likely to have an impact on the ongoing administrative inquiry. TIPNG has been concerned about the upholding of the principles of good governance in the Manumanu case.
Since the case surfaced, TIPNG has been calling on the Prime Minister to revoke his decision to reappoint ministers he stood aside to permit an Inquiry to be conducted. and preserve the integrity of the Administrative Inquiry. TIPNG has constantly called for the tabling of the findings of the Inquiry. It is difficult to see how the inquiry will be effective given the latest disclosure.
TIPNG also calls on the Ombudsman Commission and investigative authorities to take note and strong swift action. The people need assurances that government exists for them, to protect and advance their interests. If the likely evidence of fraud can be tampered with when in the care of public officials, citizens lose trust in the Government system and can even begin to doubt the sincerity of promises made to them.
Government must be Transparent on Central Rice Project Deliberation
Port Moresby, 26 January 2018 –Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) is calling on Minister for Agriculture and the National Government to ensure that the decision-making process for the controversial Central Province Rice Project must be transparent for public scrutiny. The project involves an alleged international criminal and could damage the food security & well-being of all Papua New Guineans.
In a recent statement Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Honorable Benny Allen, said that the Government was in the process of reviewing the Naime Rice Project in Central Province. Naime Food Ltd, a company only registered in 2011, was requesting both a 10-year break from paying taxes and 80% control of the domestic rice market in Papua New Guinea.
In response to this, Chairman of TIPNG, Mr Lawrence Stephens, said, “The people of Papua New Guinea deserve to know why their Government is endangering their access to food by bringing in a company that was registered only 7 years ago, has not grown a single grain of rice and is alleged to have ties to the former Indonesian fugitive DjokoTjandra. These circumstances raise serious questions about why this proposal was made to give Naime Food, by law, control of 80% of the rice in PNG.”
“TIPNG finds it concerning that other state bodies responsible for Competition, Consumer Protection, Trade, Commerce, National Planning, National Security or even compliance with International Criminal Law have not vocalised their opposition to this shady deal,” said Mr. Stephens.
“As an organisation representing the views of citizens that value clarity and integrity in Government’sdeliberations, we call on Minister Allen to be open and inclusive of all views before making this important decision,” added Stephens.
In 2009 Indonesian businessman DjokoTjandra was sentenced in absentia to 2 years imprisonment and ordered by the Indonesian Supreme Court to pay back $57 million he allegedly received from the sale of now bankrupt Bank Bali. Tjandra fled to Port Moresby in 2009 and was given refuge by the PNG Government 3 years later with local media reporting him getting PNG citizenship. Tjandra’s dealings with the O’Neill government were highlighted in a 2017 Review of 20 Outstanding Cases of National Concern 2007-2017 by TIPNG.
Oct-Dec 2017 Newsletter – Integrity Champions!
The last three months of 2017 were exciting months for us at TIPNG with the launch of our Elections Observation Report, the recognition of seven national agencies for their integrity initiatives.
We celebrated our 21st anniversary and International Anti Corruption Day at our new office property purchased after 20 years of fundraising. We are on the road to sustainability!
Read more.
Position Vacancy: Office Manager
TIPNG is inviting applications to fill in the position vacancy of OFFICE MANAGER.
The role is responsible for a diverse set of administrative tasks including maintaining office operations, human resources , finance and executive secretarial duties.
Send your application to:
The Executive Director
Transparency International PNG Inc.
P. O. Box 591, Port Moresby, NCD
Email: exectipng@gmail.com
Applications close on Monday 15 January 2018 at 4:00pm.
Job Description, click to Download PDF (0.1 MB)
2017 National Parliamentary Elections not delivered effectively, efficiently and of acceptable quality
Transparency International PNG reported that the 2017 National Parliamentary Election was not delivered effectively, efficiently and of sufficient and acceptable quality.
TIPNG presented the findings of its election observation on Thursday 9/11/17 during its Integrity Seminar held to commemorate the organization’s 20th anniversary.
TIPNG fielded 313 domestic election observers nationwide to observe polling. The observers covered 536 polling stations around the country to asses if proper electoral processes were adhered to and 1527 individual voters interviewed.
Key findings from voter survey were:
- voters reported that voting rights were taken by others without permission.
- voters said polling officials were responsible for delays in voting that resulted in voters not being able to vote.
- voters interviewed reported threats to voters on polling day, if they did not vote for a particular candidate.
- voters were offered bribes or asked for bribes to vote for a particular candidate on polling day
- there was a lack of secrecy in voting. Regional variation was noted, with Southern and New Guinea Islands Regions generally upholding secrecy.
” The survey results not only show serious issues, but that the voters were too tolerant of their rights not being upheld. We want to remind all citizens that their core role is not only marking the ballot paper to choose their leaders, but to have the courage to protect the integrity of the elections,” said TIPNG Chairman Lawrence Stephens.
Key Findings from Polling Place Survey:
- Often, polling place management and election administration was not carried out according to electoral law
- Lack of Secret Voting
- bribery and intimidation of voters during polling
- security personnel were not impartial
- polling places lacked election materials including security.
TIPNG recommends for major changes in the organisation of the PNGEC and its partners to promote behaviour that will lead to democratic elections. The following areas are recommended by TIPNG for the PNGEC and relevant agencies to improve:
- Enforcement of existing laws by agencies during the elections
- Electoral Roll Update and Verification
- Security and prevention of election related violence
- Election Awareness.
TIPNG looks forward to working with the government and other institutions to implement the recommendations of its report to help improve PNG’s elections.
Championing Integrity within our National Elections and National Agencies
To commemorate its 20th anniversary, Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) is hosting an Integrity Seminar to reinforce messages of integrity, good governance and partnership.
The Integrity Seminar is being held at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby from Thursday 9th November to Friday 10th November 2017. The theme of the event is “Championing Integrity within our National Elections and National Agencies”
There are two parts to the Integrity Seminar:
- A focus on the national elections
- Recognition of anti-corruption initiatives by national agencies.
“The Integrity Seminar will identify ways to improve the electoral process, with the launch of the TIPNG 2017 National Elections Observation Report, and also strengthen national agencies by identifying and promoting best anti-corruption initiatives that we can be replicated,” said TIPNG Chairman, Mr Lawrence Stephens.
Day one of the seminar (Thursday 9/11/17) will see the presentation of findings from TIPNG’s election observation. During the 2017 National Parliamentary Elections, TIPNG fielded 313 volunteers nationwide to observe polling. The results of the observation will be presented in a report to the Electoral Commission of PNG (PNGEC). It is TIPNG’s hope that the PNGEC takes on some of the recommendations put forward in the report and start working towards ensuring integrity in the 2022 national elections.
Day two (Friday 10/11/17) involves the recognition of anti-corruption initiatives developed and implemented by selected national agencies. The agencies will be showcasing their initiatives to encourage the sharing of ideas and replication of an initiative within another national agency. TIPNG will be presenting awards to the selected agencies To give recognition to these, sometimes unsung, initiatives.
TIPNG Report Assesses Risk of Corruption in Mining Licences Process
Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) in a new report has identified 7 areas within the process of issuing Mining Leases that need to be addressed urgently to minimise the risk of corruption occurring. The report comes from TIPNG’s participation in a global research initiative called the Mining for Sustainable Development (M4SD) Programme.
This programme brings together 17 chapters of the Transparency International movement, in countries where mining is a major component of the national economy, to identify risks in the process of awarding Mining Licenses. The awards process is the start of the mining value-chain and any effects of corruption there will be passed along, eventually impacting a countries’ sustainable development.
The TIPNG Corruption Risks In Mining Awards Country Report highlights weaknesses in cross-institutional capacity, human resources capacity in regulators, coherence of feasibility studies & MOAs, the lack of a national geo-spatial agency, consultation with community representatives, Corporate Social Reporting and issues surrounding the inclusion of women and vulnerable members of communities.
“We believe that national agencies benefit from having an external party like TIPNG assessing the processes to ensure that they are of a world-class standard” said Lawrence Stephens, Chairman of Transparency International on the launching of the report, “Mining is a steady driver of the economy of our country and is key to ensuring future sustainable development. We hope this report and its recommendations will be part of the discussion going forward about how the minerals sector can be better able to address the risk of corruption in the issuing of mining licenses in PNG.”
TIPNG as a local CSO and national chapter of the global Transparency International movement has been supportive of efforts promoting transparency in the resources sector such as being an active member of the multi-stakeholder group within the PNG Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (PNGEITI) Secretariat. While the recently launched report has been funded separately from the PNGEITI’s activities, it will certainly inform TIPNG’s work within this initiative.
Newsletter – Read about our work!
Read about our activities in this double edition newsletter (April-September) covering events at our corruption complaints helpdesk, elections and our work with young people.
Download PDF copy
Corrupt land officials must be dealt with
Transparency International PNG (TI PNG) commends Minister for Lands, Honorable Justin Tkatchenko’s undertaking to deal with officials that issue public land titles to business entities or individuals.
TIPNG is pleased to note that the Minister Tkatchenko is working with the National Capital District Commission to take back all the public land that was given away.
Corruption in land management happens when officials demand bribes for basic administrative steps, but also when high-level political decisions are unduly influenced. Administrative corruption involves bribes and illegal payments made to register land, acquire official documents and approve building permits. These land are obtained and “developed” into shopping malls, housing developments and other commercial activities.
“At TIPNG , we hope that the Minister for Lands also takes on the challenge to improve land governance. It is our strong belief that the right to land must not depend on the ability to grease the palms of public officials, but for officials to display integrity in perform their duties,” said TI PNG Chairman, Lawrence Stephens.