From the Chairman....

In the heart of Boroko in Port Mo-resby sits a monument to corruption and poor governance. At least this is my view of what it is. The 4 Mile Works Compound in Port Moresby-was somehow gifted by the people of PNG to a group who promised to

build a hotel and gambling casino complex. We never felt we were receiving adequate information about this gift. It was supposed to involve a massive investment from abroad but it never seemed that the investment was coming. Work halted. The building sits incom-plete and we hear it is structurally faulty anyway. It is a massive but silent testimony to our failures.

We failed to protect government assets from private individuals and gave away a hugely val-uable piece of land.

We failed to ensure that the community was consulted before having a gambling casino ap-proved.

We failed to object when we were told that the casino would be shamelessly reserved for for-eigners and wealthy Papua New Guineans.

We failed to be sure that the greatly privileged foreign investor was able to invest. We failed to

make sure our building codes were followed.

And we appear to be continuing to fail to hold anyone accountable for this shocking display of failure.

Christmas and New Year is a time when it seems appropriate to be cheerful and positive. To look beyond our failures and to welcome opportunities for improvement, which must surely be only just around the corner? The improvements we seek include:

Cancellation of all illegally or irregularly granted Special Purpose Business and Agriculture Leases without any further delay.

Continuation of the work to hold public officials accountable for the manner in which they de-clare their assets and handle public funds.

Penalties applied for individuals and companies who distort public procurement and undermine our reputation as a country where public con-tracts are awarded professionally and honestly.

Active commitment by PNG to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

Public information on how the controversial citi-zenship of Djoko Tjandra was granted and deemed to be lawful.

A public and open investigation of the award of the health and medical supplies contract to Bor-neo Pacific Pharmaceuticals.

We thank all our supporters and donors for their loyalty to us and the cause and look forward to work-ing with you all next year. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2015.

Lawrence Stephens

April—June 2014 Transparency International PNG

News from Transparency International PNGTransparency International PNG

Open Government Partnership for

greater transparency

As part of civil society’s support of the Government of Papua New Guinea’s commitment to reform, Transparency International PNG and the Institute of National Affairs will be convened the inaugural consultation on developing the 1

st National Action Plan on

Open Government for Papua New Guinea. This consultation involved agencies of the Government, civil society and the private sector in a plan that will see Papua New Guinea becoming a full participant in the Open Government Partnership (OGP). The two day workshop held in November examined three critical areas of eligibility and they are Access to Information, Asset Disclosure and Citizen Engagement.

The workshop is aimed to create knowledge and understanding of the OGP amongst the participants, develop a draft work plan for the contextualization of Open Government in PNG and establish a dynamic support network between governments and civil society actors from OGP participating countries in the Asia Pacific Region.

The OGP involves many countries. It aims to secure

commitments from governments to promote

transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and

harness new technologies to strengthen governance. The

OGP was launched on the 20th of September 2011 with 8

founding governments (Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico,

Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, the United

Kingdom and the United States). To date there are 65

countries participating in the Open Government

Partnership. In all these countries, government and civil

society are working together to develop and implement

ambitious open government reforms.

For more information on the Open Government

Partnership, visit www.opengovpartnership.org.

October—December 2014

In November 2014, an Anti-Corruption Mobilization Workshop was held at Vunapope in Kokopo to inform and encourage people in East New Britain province to take action against corruption and to establish strong and sustainable relationships with people and partners in the province. More than thirty people attended the training, representing a good spread of participants from all districts of East New Britain Province. Concepts of creating change, drafting petitions, organizing protests and various other corruption-fighting tools were taught during the training. Outcomes of the training

Participants came together and formed a “Change ENB Coalition Against Corruption” to link to the national Community Coalition Against Corruption and TI PNG.

The group has held several meetings and appointed executives for the coalition. The Change ENB executives are currently drafting their Rules of Association as a process for being registered and incorporated under the Investment Promotion Authority.

The Change ENB Coalition Against Corruption have also had meetings to discuss their fundraising and other advocacy plans. High on

their list is a Budget tracking training and other activities for the youth.

Most recently…. To commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9

th, Change ENB Team Leader, Mr Authur

Luluai participated in a radio interview on RENB FM, and raised awareness about the effects of corruption and urged the people of ENB to join forces and uproot corruption in all sectors of their province.

Be part of the Change in East New Britain! Contact Us!

If you are from East New Britain Province or reside in the province and would like to voluntarily contribute

your ideas, resources or expertise to the group, Change ENB Coalition Against Corruption, please contact Team Leader, Mr Arthur Luluai (ENB), on 70887438 or Ms Yvonne Ngutlick at TI PNG on

320 2188/82. or comstipng@gmail.com

Creating Change in East New Britain Province Coalition set on making a difference

Participants taking part in discussions during the workshop.

Papua New Guinea continues to be perceived as one of the world’s “highly corrupt” countries, according to Transparency International’s 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). For the third consecutive year PNG scored only 25 out of 100. With 100 being perceived to be “very clean” and zero perceived to be “highly corrupt” we remain well below the world average of 43. The 2014 CPI ranked Papua New Guinea 145 out of 177 countries surveyed. The CPI is a combination of data collected by 12 reputable organizations and reflects the views of observers from around the world including experts living and working in the countries evaluated. The information on PNG was sourced from five surveys: Bertelsmann Foundation Transformation Index, Political Risk Services International Country Risk Guide, World Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment 2013, Economist Intelligence Unit Country Risk Ratings, and Global Insight Country Risk Ratings. Chairman of Transparency International PNG (TIPNG), Lawrence Stephens says, “The 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index presents another challenge to each of us. PNG’s ranking on the 2014 CPI implies that PNG still faces the issue of corruption at many levels of government, from the issuing of local permits to the enforcement of laws and regulations. We believe we are much better than this and that we will prove this. The CPI however offers a

reminder and a warning that we are perceived to permit the abuse of power, secret dealings and bribery. Corruption continues to be seen destroying sustainable development in Papua New Guinea and many other countries. Until serious evidence of commitment is provided by appropriate authorities to improve government systems, enforce and uphold legal processes, our communities will continue to suffer from lack of basic services and PNG will continue to be perceived to be amongst the most corrupt countries in the world.” PNG has some of the best rules and laws in the world, but the biggest problem continues to be the lack of enforcement of the law. There is little or no accountability for those who fail to follow the rule of law in dealing with state assets and decisions. The legal loopholes and an apparent lack of political will facilitate domestic and cross-border corruption with offenders enjoying scandalous levels of impunity. Public sector corruption threatens to undermine

national development initiatives

Each year, when the CPI is released we hear objections to the PNG score and ranking. But then even a cursory examination of domestic media headlines reminds us we face very serious challenges. Statistics from TI PNG’s corruption complaints desk also confirm that corruption within the public sector remains one of PNG’s biggest

challenges. Complaints to TI PNG point particularly to areas such as public procurement and administration, land and property, political parties, police, and justice systems. Change will occur when public institutions are more open about their work and officials more transparent in their decision-making.

Even though the CPI is again not good news for PNG,

we can continue to be confident that improvement will

happen. We have the assurances of government that

corruption will be weeded out. We see the

engagement of PNG with the United Nations

Convention Against Corruption, Open Government

Partnership, the Extractive Industries Transparency

Initiative as important. The willingness of officials to

submit to legal investigations and the creation of an

Independent Commission Against Corruption are all

indications that we are a country becoming more

determined to win the battle against corruption.

“More needs to be done in strengthening and resourcing the current integrity institutions that enforce best practices and regulations with a view to reducing corruption and promoting good governance. Proactive steps are needed in implementing the National Anti Corruption Strategy, by pursuing legislation to allow public access to information and whistleblower’s legislation as a matter of priority,” said Mr Stephens. Read more, go to www.transparency.org/cpi2014

Papua New Guinea scores poorly on the 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index

Dance against Corruption - Anti-Corruption Flash mob On International Anti-Corruption Day, the Youth Against Corruption Association and its Supporters travelled around Port Moresby to perform random flash mobs in public places. The aim of the flash mob was to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day, raise awareness on

TI PNG’s School Based Civic Education Project aims to instil a higher level of integrity in our society, especially in the younger population. The project aims to help students to be able to:

Identify the functions and processes of civil society and state institutions and the way they contribute to national integrity

Apply the skills of citizenship which model and promote democratic governance in their own community

TI PNG will be producing various materials that students need to understand how governance processes and our laws are supposed to work. This would help youth understand concepts like human rights, democracy, rule of law and advocacy, and to apply these in their communities. Currently, the School Based Civic Education project has been trialling some of the

teaching materials with primary and secondary school students and is working on designing big books and other teaching materials for teachers. The School Based Civic Education Project will be producing:

Civic Education Resource Book teachers with interactive exercises

Reading books explaining key concepts

Picture story books/Big Books targeting those with low literacy

Book of Corruption fighting heroes

Website for teachers – ww.tcsbcetipng.wix.com/sbce

DVD of Civic Education videos, presentations and sample lessons

Training for all secondary teachers

School Based Civic Education School Based Civic Education

For more information on how to become a member or on

any of our programs, contact the TIPNG

Public Relations Manager

Ms Yvonne Ngutlick

or send an email to comstipng@gmail.com

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL (PNG) INC. 2nd level IPA Haus, Konedobu

PO. Box 591 PORT MORESBY, NCD Phone: 320 2182/2188 Fax: 320 2189

Visit us on

www.transparencypng.org.pg

Transparency International (PNG) Inc. is part of the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. There are over 100 TI chapters worldwide and an International Secretariat in Berlin, Germany. We raise awareness on the damaging effects of corruption to empower people to make an active choice

against it. We work with our partners in government, business and civil society to develop and strategize ways to tackle corruption.

We are a global movement sharing one vision: A world in which government, politics, businesses and the

daily lives are free from corruption.

Thank you to our

sponsors!

On International Anti-Corruption Day, TI PNG in collaboration with the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce hosted a breakfast dialogue to discuss PNG’s ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The aim of the dialogue was to engage stakeholders in discussion to strategize efforts to combat corruption. The breakfast dialogue panelists were: Director of Institute of National Affairs, Paul Barker, Private Businessman, Allan Bird, President of the Business Council of PNG, David Toua and Chairman of Transparency International PNG, Lawrence Stephens. All the speakers agreed in principal that the costs of corruption on businesses were huge.TI PNG Chairman said it was great to have the business council and various professional organizations, including the Government, take a stand on addressing corruption, but more needs to be done. There are still a huge number of issues for PNG to address. This is something business, government, churches and individual citizens address together, not as opponents.

Breakfast Dialogue on PNG’s rank on the 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index

Allan Bird (center) making a point during the Breakfast Dialogue

Informed. Engaged. Empowered. Make a difference.

Take the first step today! Sign up to be a member of TI PNG and support the fight against corruption!

No one can fight corruption on their own. Combating corruption requires a unified effort of individuals, businesses, churches and governments. Corruption can be rooted when people join together to change the system that

facilitates it.

Your support gives us the mandate to represent you in ensuring that good governance prevails at all levels of society. Your support gives us a voice to speak out against all forms of corruption.

YOU are at the heart of everything we do.

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