People are always talking about corruption in PNG. In fact, talking about corruption and issues of mis-management seems to be a bit of a local pass-time. Newspapers always carry a story or two on the subject, politicians accusing other politicians, members of the public accusing politicians, etc, etc….
In PNG and in my opinion, corruption, wantokism, mis-management and nepotism are all connected. They are all related and run very deep in the PNG psyche and behaviour. Changing this part of the PNG culture is by no means a simple or easy thing. It would be like trying to outlaw “mateship” in Australia or banning fathers from taking their sons to the football or stopping the Friday evenings drink after work down at the local. Cultural values and national behaviour run very deep. No matter where one lives.
Now back to my story…. the thing is that the average PNG national is wanting to change this situation. But…. they are wanting other people to change their ways. Not themselves!! The corruption / mismanagement thing runs rampant at all levels of PNG society not just “upstairs”. I would describe this behaviour as a way of interelating or interacting between PNG nationals at all levels.
I really like the saying : “For the world to change I must change 1st”.
An example of what I am talking about…. there is a UNITECH student who was discontinued recently after failing 2x semesters in a row. This student had : “Never to be readmitted due to poor academic performance” (or words to that effect) stamped on their file. Guess what happened…. the “order” came down to us from “upstairs” to readmit this student and allow this student to re-register next semester. Makes you wander what the relationship between the person “upstairs” and the student must be!!
Only in PNG…..
Thats absolutely correct,we are in this world where whom you know is better than what you know.Our custom and tradition has always come into collision with our legistlation.