By Nadia. Marai

The European-funded project ‘’ Preventing and Countering Corruption in Papua New Guinea’’ which is implemented by the European Union and United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes (UNDOC) recently ran a week of training on investigations of administrative complaints for practitioners working in the area of integrity and anti-corruption, entrusted with or interested in investigations of administrative complaints which included the Public Services Commission. The training was conducted by UNDP’s Anti-Corruption specialists in partnership with the Department of Attorney General.

Fifteen (15) officers from PSC attended the training to broaden their skills and knowledge in the area of conducting administrative investigations.

Bonstein Igime who is a Review officer with the National Review Division was one of the officers that attended the training from the 2nd to the 5th of May 2023, at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby.

‘’ We were given advanced training on investigations of administrative complaints. Basically, during those 3 days, we learned about how to eliminate risks leading to administrative complaints, how to investigate administrative complaints in theory and in practice, and finally how to fight corruption and fraud in the public sector in practice’’ said Mr. Igime.

He said on the last day the training was specifically on corruption risk assessment and management. ‘’ During that session, we learned about how to identify and assess key corruption risks, how to develop specific plans to address each of these key corruption risks, how to implement these plans, and finally how to ensure regular monitoring of implementation.’’

Each of the days’ training was designed to provide awareness and knowledge to key practitioners who are working in institutions of integrity and anti-corruption and are dealing with investigations of administrative complaints. Presentations centered around basic theoretical knowledge, combined with extensive practical exercises (case studies, role-playing, etc…) putting current regulations into a practical context and reviewing alternative ways of addressing the existing challenges.

The training is the advanced continuation of basic training on the investigation of administrative complaints that is funded by the EU and co-organized by UNDP and DJAG within the PNG Anti-Corruption Project in October 2022 in Port Moresby. The focus of advanced training is on the practical application of knowledge.

Mr Igime said the training was very important for him as well as a first-time Review officer for PSC.

‘’It’s very important to understand and appropriately apply the proper investigative techniques to effectively deal with administrative complaints within the public sector. To establish preventive and pre-emptive measures to carefully identify corruption risks and to effectively deal with them and thereafter establish evaluation and monitoring processes to neutralize these corruption risks.’’

Mr. Igime added that we should do our job with pride and utmost professionalism in order to help eradicate corruption and negative practices and stigma from the public sector in PNG. PNG is slowly improving as indicated in the recent reports from the global corruption index and although it is a promising sign of good things to come, the improvements we are making are still at a snail’s pace. Therefore, it’s imperative that all officers from the different government agencies and departments around the country should work in a collective manner with a strong intent, purpose, and objective to significantly reduce and neutralize corruption in our country.

Image: Officers of PSC who attended the training alongside Interim Chairman for ICAC Mr Thomas Eluh (Seated 2nd from right) with the trainers from UNDP Mr Drago Kos and Almar Sedlar.