Post Courier | Editorial | March 12 2025
Catholic Church Archbishop Sir John Ribat dropped a bombshell yesterday.
He took corruption by politicians and public servants head-on.
But it appears the people that were targeted - the politicians who run the country - did not flinch at Sir John's suggestion that police should be given special powers to arrest MPs who are found to be corrupt while serving in public office.
They went about business as usual. They seem to have developed thick-skin immunity to the corruption octopus.
We support Sir John's call and do many Papua New Guineans who followed his story on social media.
Parliament met yesterday afternoon in Waigani for the first session this year. The opening of the 2025 Parliament was dedicated to remembering an icon of anti-corruptions in parliamentary services and public service - the Last Man Standing - late Sir Julius Chan, who passed away last month.
Flowery accolades and emphatic eulogies were orated in his memory. But few remembered to say that Sir J, a founding father of the nation alongside Grad Chief Sir Michael Somare , as a three- time Finance Minister, was a strong advocate against financial management.
This was a key point in Sir John's broadside are corruption and its effect on the common people.
He said corruption was and is the biggest obstacle to development agendas in Papua New Guinea.
Sir John emphasized that ordinary Papua New Guineas are suffering today because all governments have never effectively addressed corruption in governance since 1975.
We cannot agree more. Our government systems have become so corrupted because politicians are afraid to put their foot down. The politicians themselves continue to turn a blind eye to corruption or are themselves part takers in evil schemes and scams with their partners.
Corruption transcends and manifests into robbing ordinary Papua New Guineans of their hopes, dreams and aspirations of a better life and a safer and secure future.
Many forced into criminal activities m robberies attacks on womenfolk, prostitution, tribal conflicts and ethnic cleansing because the government funding meant for them and their communities is diminished or vanishes as a results of corruption.
The Ombudsman Commission investigates our leaders under the Leadership Code of PNG.
The OC has given the MPs until March 31 to submit their acquittals for the years 2023 and 202 to the authorities.
This lack of urgency from MPs to be diligent, accountable, and transparent is worrying. Two non acquittals is a red flag trend.
We support the work of OC in addressing this issue as it relates to leadership integrity, honesty, transparency and accountability.
Sir John was expressly frustrated at the failure of all governments to restrain corruption and is adamant that our leaders now must address the issue with sensitivity, commitment, integrity, and honesty.
The MPs, the Prime Minister, and his Ministers should bow their heads in humility and humbleness as they have a moral obligation to tell the country ho they will end corruption once and for all.
Sir John's public announcement in the Post-Courier was shared 84 times on Facebook and drew a lot of support in the fight against corruption.