Transcript
LAWRENCE STEPHENS: The only details that we had were the details that were published in the paper and we reacted to that. As we understand it they complained to the Public Service Department about extra-ordinary and incorrect things taking place in the Defence Department, and as we read it, they were therefore sacked.
DON WISEMAN: Transparency International - you have got a very strong view about this. What do you think should have happened?
LS: Our view is that public servants are obliged to report things that are wrong, behaviour that is wrong. We have far too many people who are led to believe they have to keep their mouths shut because it's an official secret or some nonsense like that, whereas people know that things are being done badly and they should be encouraged to make sure these are brought into the open, so they can be attended to, not punished when they do so.
DW: Of course jobs can be hard to come by in the public service in Papua New Guinea so people are under that constant pressure. Your organisation, you have got this Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre - what exactly are you offering potential whistleblowers?
LS: We are offering anybody who is witness to or suffers from corruption the opportunity to come in to discuss or contact us - not even come in if they don't wish to contact us, and discuss the situation they are facing and to think through with them the best ways of addressing that. As you point out, it's difficult, jobs are hard to come by in PNG and people often are fearful for their jobs. In fact many companies are fearful for their contracts and so get quiet as well. We aim to encourage people to shine a light in these dark, murky areas and assist them, face the problems that they're facing and have them addressed. Not simply hide from them.
DW: Now as you say you don't know the details of these particular allegations. If they were talking about mis-administration and whatever within the Defence Department, would is it likely, in your view, to be mismanagement or incompetence or corruption.
LS: Again, without talking to the people involved, I can't say for sure but if one looks at the front pages of the two newspapers today [Tues 7th Feb] it is fairly clear t hat the Prime Minister thinks that the Defence Department has been riddled with corrupt behaviour, with the land deals that are involving two ministers, one can imagine that there is that there is corruption in the department, otherwise those brave people would not have come forward. and we feel those people should be honoured, not made to suffer for it. As for what is going on within the Defence Department we are now being told there will be an inquiry. We look forward to hearing the results of that inquiry and it would be very refreshing to hear that an inquiry that actually takes place leads to conclusions that people respond to be taking action.
TI PNG's chairman Lawrence Stephens
