Corruption has us in it's grip

Corruption is such an emotive word. It conjures up images of the worst kinds of sleazy, grubby, underhanded, backdoor deals to make money. In our colonial days, the word was not spoken of much. The impression was that business and politics then were conducted in relatively clean fashion, untainted much by dirty dealings done in forbidden ways.

That may be a simplistic, even an erroneous impression, but the fact is that many Papua New Guineans and expatriates of that era had that impression and believed in it. The opinion was often espoused at gatherings in the 1970s as the groundswell of nationalism welled up in Papua New Guinea educated circles.

“We’ve got little bits here and there, but nothing like Africa and the Asians have to live with’’, was a common sentiment of those who had travelled.Some would even sneer at the thought of Papua New Guinea going down that track. The setting up of institutions with safeguards, the reluctance of the colonial powers and their leaders to put up with corrupt practices and the general impression that “it’s not our thing’’ made us complacent.

Now, we have a Business Against Corruption Alliance, formed by Transparency International PNG, the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British High Commission.It has got to the stage where business leaders and others have seen the need for a concerted stand against corruption in PNG society.

High Commissioner David Dunn made it plain: “Corruption is a human trait that is hugely depleting business and national development all over the world.’’ And now it’s here, we say, in a bigger, smelly way. Every adult Papua New Guinean knows that corruption is alive and thriving here.

It doesn’t just hang off the shirt-tails of our politicians, it starts right down at grassroots level where people have had to get used to dishing out money or goods to get things done. You want to get a job driving and don’t have a licence? No big deal, that can be yours by the shuffle of notes from hand to hand.

Want to avoid paying that traffic fine? Quickly now, before somebody sees us doing the deal.Need a building approval or a piece of land? Out the back door, or over to the local club for a quiet arrangement over a drink. Yes, we need BACA and we need more money and resources guaranteed to make our legislated watchdogs effective . . . before it gets worse!

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@