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by Admin on Jul 29th, 2010
With Peter O’Neill installed as Minister for Finance despite the findings of fraud against him in the NPF Commission of Inquiry, it is worth reflecting on the Post Courier editorial published on the 10th of April 2003. An editorial which posed the question of where we are going as a Nation when we fail to take action against those implicated in “the greatest scandal ever in the history of PNG”
Lack of action: We are all losers
THIS is the last update we will publish on the National Provident Fund Commission of Inquiry findings.
Over the last 85 editions, the Post-Courier published 97 pages of extracts from the NPF Report as well as a Scoreboard on the referrals made to the various national institutions for further action.
The pages this newspaper had committed to the NPF Report amounted to a revenue of more than K224,000 which we did not collect.
That was the cost of bringing this report to the people of Papua New Guinea — more specifically thousands of contributors to the National Provident Fund who lost millions of kina in life savings they will never ever reclaim.
For them the only satisfaction will be to see justice done — that those responsible for this greatest scandal ever in the history of PNG face the law and answer for their actions.
We have no regrets at what may seem to be lost revenue. We did so in good faith and in the public interest because of our firm commitment to fight corruption at all levels in our society.
This may mark the end of the published extracts from the NPF Report but our commitment and resolve to rid corruption from this great nation remains as strong as ever.
We are committed to working in partnership with all our partners in the Community Coalition Against Corruption and the great Institutions of State to ensure justice prevails in PNG — for without it there is no future for our children and future generations.
We are committed to supporting all efforts being made to ensure our people live and enjoy the fruits of a just, open society with systems that ensure transparency and accountability in leadership at all levels.
A society where every man, woman and child is given an equal opportunity to realise their full potential as free citizens of this nation.
Corruption is a deadly form of cancer that is eating away at the social fabric of PNG. A major surgery is required to remove it before it engulfs the whole body and soul of our land.
There is a ray of hope out there in the community that gives us confidence that even if action on the referrals contained in the NPF Report is delayed, we know that there is a coalition of many individuals and groups in this country who have a voice loud enough to remind the institutions of State of their duties and responsibility to implement the recommendations of the report.
Today’s public forum asks the most pertinent question about the referrals: What action?
As this forum gets underway in Port Moresby, the final report of another commission of inquiry — the Commission of Inquiry into the Defence Force Retirement Benefits Fund will be presented to the Prime Minister.
We have yet to see one successful prosecution out of the NPF Commission of Inquiry Report and we have another report soon to be tabled in Parliament.
The contents of that report will remain secret until it is actually tabled in the House. Only then will we know what the inquiry has found.
Will there be another public forum to ask the same question: What Action?
Both reports are a sad indictment of the direction our country has taken in the last few years.
We say that the elite of this nation ought to feel guilty about not doing the right thing by their people.
So much hope and confidence was placed on so many of our elite citizens but they have failed their people.
All of us are the ultimate losers.
Hi everyone! Terri Hayes here filling in for Brandin who is currently at CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) show where she is showing off the newest Webster’s Pages releases. I work with Brandin at Webser's Pages and will tell you about our new releases. However, there is something that takes priority over our new products. This would be the reason Brandin hasn’t had a chance to post in a while…her beautiful new baby Jude!!
Jude Alexander was born in June and was a healthy 8lb 11oz, 21 1/2" and cute as can be!
Here he is when he was just one day old!
He is doing great, and to make this wonderful event even more special, his new cousin Sebastian was born just a day later! What a weekend!
Of course the Webster's Pages design team had to commemorate this special occasion:
Which brings me to Brandin's other "babies." Okay, not quite the same thing...but I think sometimes it probably feels that way. You create them, the process takes months, and then they are out there for the world to see! Big difference though as she is hoping to share these babies with paper crafters all over the world.
Webster's Pages has four new collections for CHA and a bunch of new embellishments:
Hollywood Vogue
Wonderfall
Waiting for Santa
Sweet Season
You can see much more of the new collections, including all the wonderful embellishments, at our online community inspireME and you might even win some of our new products or be a guest designer for us (just follow the instructions in the posts). Just go here (you will need to register at the site to post): inspireME CHA Forum.
Thanks for stopping by!
