austraLasia #2633
Don Bosco students stand up against corruption
PORT MORESBY: 29 April 2010 -- Students and staff of Don Bosco Technological Institute (DBTI) in Port Moresby will sign a petition calling on the PNG Parliament to reject an amendment known as the Maladina amendment during its final reading when Parliament meets next Tuesday. The amendment has resulted in vigorous debate in the public forum, especially since it is seen as restricting the power of the Ombudsman.
School principal Fr Valeriano Barbero told Transparency International PNG chairman Peter Aitsi during a visit last Friday that the institution was against the proposed amendment. Fr Valeriano said the way they see it, the changes would weaken the commission’s powers to hold leaders accountable for their actions in the use of public funds.
“The Don Bosco school stands in support of what you are doing in opposing corruption....We are behind you in stopping any bill that might promote corruption in the country,” Fr Valeriano said. He told students that if they wanted to stop corruption, they had to start with themselves.
On March 9, Parliament voted 83-0 to amend section 27(4) of the PNG Constitution, effectively disallowing the Ombudsman Commission from issuing directives to prevent payment from public funds to office holders if it feels there was impropriety. The bill will go through its third and final reading when Parliament meets next Tuesday.
Transparency International PNG and concerned individuals and organisations have gone on the campaign trail to try and stop Parliament from voting for the amendment. They say that these changes would take away the watchdog’s ability to stop politicians and public office holders from wasting public money and make it even harder for investigations to be carried out on leaders when they are suspected of misconduct in office.
“It is right for us to hold our leaders to account because they represent us, the people of PNG; if we let them take away that right from us, then the situation will be that they don’t work for us but for themselves,” Mr Aitsi told students.
“The number one step is to learn about the amendment so that you are better placed to understand and know the implications it is going to have on you in the future,” he said. Mr Aitsi encouraged the students to be involved, saying: “This is our nation, and we must stand up and be heard because if we don’t, the opportunities you see and have today will not be here for your children.”
On May 4, TIPNG, through the Community Coalition Against Corruption (CCAC) will deliver a petition to Parliament on these proposed changes, urging politicians to vote against the Maladina amendment
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AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org
Don Bosco students stand up against corruption
PORT MORESBY: 29 April 2010 -- Students and staff of Don Bosco Technological Institute (DBTI) in Port Moresby will sign a petition calling on the PNG Parliament to reject an amendment known as the Maladina amendment during its final reading when Parliament meets next Tuesday. The amendment has resulted in vigorous debate in the public forum, especially since it is seen as restricting the power of the Ombudsman.
School principal Fr Valeriano Barbero told Transparency International PNG chairman Peter Aitsi during a visit last Friday that the institution was against the proposed amendment. Fr Valeriano said the way they see it, the changes would weaken the commission’s powers to hold leaders accountable for their actions in the use of public funds.
“The Don Bosco school stands in support of what you are doing in opposing corruption....We are behind you in stopping any bill that might promote corruption in the country,” Fr Valeriano said. He told students that if they wanted to stop corruption, they had to start with themselves.
On March 9, Parliament voted 83-0 to amend section 27(4) of the PNG Constitution, effectively disallowing the Ombudsman Commission from issuing directives to prevent payment from public funds to office holders if it feels there was impropriety. The bill will go through its third and final reading when Parliament meets next Tuesday.
Transparency International PNG and concerned individuals and organisations have gone on the campaign trail to try and stop Parliament from voting for the amendment. They say that these changes would take away the watchdog’s ability to stop politicians and public office holders from wasting public money and make it even harder for investigations to be carried out on leaders when they are suspected of misconduct in office.
“It is right for us to hold our leaders to account because they represent us, the people of PNG; if we let them take away that right from us, then the situation will be that they don’t work for us but for themselves,” Mr Aitsi told students.
“The number one step is to learn about the amendment so that you are better placed to understand and know the implications it is going to have on you in the future,” he said. Mr Aitsi encouraged the students to be involved, saying: “This is our nation, and we must stand up and be heard because if we don’t, the opportunities you see and have today will not be here for your children.”
On May 4, TIPNG, through the Community Coalition Against Corruption (CCAC) will deliver a petition to Parliament on these proposed changes, urging politicians to vote against the Maladina amendment
________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org
