By Kevin Pamba

THE country’s political and administrative elite has failed to deal with widespread corruption that is becoming a major killer in Papua New Guinea, a business leader said.

From PNG Exposed

The World Bank is pushing the government of Papua New Guinea to open tax free zones across the country where foreign companies can operate duty free and ignore labour and health and safety laws.

By Paul Barker, Institute of National Affairs

THE Prime Minister wants departmental heads to explain why services are not reaching the people.

It is odd that he does not know the answer.

For many years, operating funds for recurrent goods and services and infrastructure maintenance, particularly at sub-national level, have been hacked back.

Brazil is taking huge strides to wash away endemic corruption in politics with a groundbreaking new law referred to as Ficha Limpa – which means ‘clean slate’ in English.

The law will permanently bar anybody from running for any political office (in municipal, state or federal elections) who has any corruption charges or even allegations pending against them.

The law also bars candidates who have been expelled from any professional organisation.

By Paul Oates¹

ADDRESSING THE annual conference of the Institute of Internal Auditors inPort Moresby last Friday, PNG Ombudsman John Nero raised the prospect of recovering misappropriated funds.

Mr Nero said leadership tribunals should be empowered to order their restitution.

"As it is, a leader can steal millions of kina and is not be obligated to pay back even though found guilty by the tribunal," he told the conference.

By Dr Kristian Lasslett¹

By Reginald Renagi (PNG Attitude)

SINCE INDEPENDENCE our political leadership has been found wanting.

The MP elected by parliament to become the CEO of PNG Inc represents the people as well as being head of government. As Prime Minister, he alone must take responsibility for the way our country’s national business is conducted.

Mining Minster, John Pundari, has announced in a Ministerial Statement (see below) he wants a government body set up to control NGOs and ensure they "work within a set policy framework" and "partner and complement the government".

This sinister declaration comes on the back of other government moves to limit free speech and close down democratic rights and freedoms, including

By SAM BASIL

The Governor of the Bank of PNG Mr Loi Bakani’s comment yesterday through the media regarding the reckless investments made by the Somare government by placing K5 billion of the people’s money into trust accounts held by the commercial banks is uncalled for.

Professor John Nonggorr explains how the Prime Minister and Speaker have broken the law and shown their contempt for the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea

Sir Michael Somare’s Government has again broken PNG’s Constitution for temporary gain - to retain political power. The events that unfolded on the floor of the Parliament on July 21 were not only contrary to the Constitution but also a disgrace to parliamentary democracy.