A plan for the good governance of PNG
22 May 2010
BY REGINALD RENAGI
I THINK WE’D all agree that political stability and good governance are vital for PNG's future growth and prosperity.
The government must at all times promote good governance to ensure transparency and accountability in everything it does for its citizens.
Parliament must strive for good government and clean politics. It is time we got rid of the special interests that are corrupting our political system.
If we don’t stop corruption, it will soon destroy our government and society.
The government should start combating corruption using some of these strategies:
Promote open discussion of the most significant problems facing parliament.
Develop priorities for reforms to make government operations transparent and accountable.
Ensure proper oversight of government functions by strengthening internal mechanisms, including investigative and enforcement capacity with respect to acts of corruption.
Facilitate public access to information necessary for meaningful outside review.
Establish conflict of interest standards for public employees.
Introduce effective measures against illicit enrichment, including stiff penalties for those who utilise their public positions to benefit private interests.
Legislate for governments at all levels to adopt and enforce measures against bribery in all financial or commercial transactions both within the state and with external actors.
Colin - Maybe Amanda Vanstone is what is needed in PNG if she calls a spade a spade. I'd like to see some Aussie diplomat talk tough in PNG to see the sparks fly here.
It'll be fun to watch as Michael will swallow and stutter if she ever catches him off-guard and off-balance. The other countries won't say anything out of the ordinary for obvious reasons - and our new Aussie mate, Ian Kemish, just got here.
Before Ian shoots off his mouth to cut short his tour of duty, he is putting his time to good use by watching how things are in PNG.
He will probably say something to surprise us all after six months of being in the country to gauge things for himself.
It is still early days and he's still enjoying sightseeing the countryside and brushing up on his Tok Pisin, but not Motu from what I gather in the grapevine.
Posted by: Reginald Renagi | 21 June 2010 at 04:43 PM
Hi Captain
Well if saying something "politically incorrect", is out of the equation, how about they have the guts to say something "politically correct"?
Further if they say what is going on in eg: PNG as the accredited Ambassador to their respective country, how come nothing is ever heard of this?
Seems to me, that they are therefore a waste of time and money.
I think that Ambassadors, especially the Americans, have had plenty to say from the countries that they have accrediation to!
EG: Iraq, the Balkans during those conflicts, and Afghanistan - so why not in PNG?
I am bloody sure that "political correctness" and so called 'nicities' would not stop Amanda from calling a spade a spade!
Cheers
Colin
Posted by: Colin Huggins | 21 June 2010 at 02:11 PM
Colin - No one in the diplomatic corps will ever say anything that is politically incorrect. As soon as they utter anything of that nature they will be immediately recalled home. Their tour of duty will be cut short by their home country's Foreign Ministry to save any embarrassements caused to the host country, and their own government.
Posted by: Reginald Renagi | 21 June 2010 at 01:47 PM
Hi Captain - Well you don't mince your words or views - congratulations. Hopefully someone in PNG will listen, heed and do something?
When one reads one report after another on what is going on in PNG, you don't have to be Albert Einstein to see that the country is on the "slippery slope". Rock bottom is not that far away.
Now using your words not mine, and I totally agree, "there must now be an MP or groups of pollies with the guts and balls to hear the people's cries loud and clear and plan to do something about it."
Just out of curiosity, do the accredited Ambassadors and High Commissioners, ever say anything that is newsworthy on the present state of affairs?
I would think that the outgoing Australian Ambassador to Italy, Amanda Vanstone, would be a good choice. She would get to the bottom of the AusAID/PNG misappropriations of the $457 million.
Keep going, Captain Reg, you'll win in the hopefully short term, because it just can't go on like it is.
Posted by: Colin Huggins | 20 June 2010 at 03:53 PM
Today, we are truly in a very sad state of affairs. My beloved country, PNG, and its people are crying ou to be heard and changed towards a better government.
Enough is enough, there must now be an MP or groups of pollies with the guts and balls to hear the people's cries loud and clear and plan to do something about it.
This will only be achieved in a new progressive and transformational government now and hopefully after the 2012 national elections.
We must further cut down on all unnecessary wastage and ineffeciencies, fraud, graft and corruption in its many forms in both government and the private sector. This is the only way to progress PNG in this millimium.
Posted by: Reginald Renagi | 20 June 2010 at 03:15 PM
The people of PNG own their country, not the select few in government from the PM down with the obvious "special interests" who have now corrupted; and still influencing key government decisions.
The new future vision should be about good government and 'clean politics'. It is time we cut out the special interests from corrupting our political system. If we do no do this now, it will soon destry our country's government and society.
The present leadership has totally failed to arrest this growing cancer and must be replaced with a more proactive and competent ship's captain.
Posted by: Reginald Renagi | 20 June 2010 at 03:08 PM
Political stability and good governance go hand in hand. PNG's current leadership is now a tired ship's captain. The country desperately needs a new captain to promote good governance at all times to ensure transparency, accountability and properity for all.
This will lead over time to more effecient use of our limited resources and fairer distribution of wealth and income, a higher level of investment by investors and creating more jobs and prosperity for our people.
Posted by: Reginald Renagi | 20 June 2010 at 03:03 PM