Page 35 - IB JAN 2017

We Say

Despite the complaint by Oro Governor Garry Juffa (left) to PNG Health
Minister Michael Malabag (pictured below with Australia’s Parliamentary
Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Senator Matt Thistlethwaite, at the opening of
the isolation ward at Garu General Hospital), there has been no investigation.

Photo: AusAid

Nor has there been an attempt to What hope exists for the people when
ensure that the project is completed by those chosen to protect them through
the contractor. the creation of policies and legislation
Juffa has cited the awarding of the sit back and laugh at budget cuts or do
contract as dubious and has started legal nothing about rampant corruption?
proceedings on humanitarian grounds PNG is not the only Pacific country to
to ensure the building is completed and face these problems.
the people responsible for the scam are There are many parliaments across the
brought to justice. region which – despite their ability to act
But he has an uphill battle. against the corrupt – do little or nothing
Recently the PNG government slashed to root out the scourge.
funding to church-run medical facilities It is legislators like Juffa who restore
Photo: File by $AUD25million – ostensibly to the hope that perhaps, among the ranks of
salary component of its assistance to the Pacific’s leaders, there are yet men
the churches. and women who will not stand for the
These centres are pivotal points for As the explanation was made in the nonsense that occurs in the corridors
the health and wellbeing of a community PNG Parliament, MPs giggled and some of power.
which mainly lives in rural areas from laughed openly. Here is a man who is not afraid to
which it is expensive to travel. This despite the fact that it is the blow the whistle on the corrupt or point
A year after Juffa raised the matter church-operated medical facilities which a finger at law breakers.
with Health Minister Michael Malabag have provided the only health stations The region is in desperate need of
there has been no investigation into how in some of the most remote parts of the people like Juffa.
the contract was awarded. country for over six decades.
l We Say is compiled with the oversight of the editor.

Islands Business, January 2017 35