In 'Frathley Sweet', an old book supposedly written by one 'Alfabeck Lauder" about 'Strine', that picturesque, tongue in cheek rendition of the 'Orstrine'; (Australian) way of speaking the English language, there is a Chapter on 'Aorta'.
The reader might at first think that anything to do with an aorta involves matters medical but that is not the case. The author goes on to give examples where 'aorta' is used in everyday 'Orstrine' communication.
"Aorta do sometin' erbout it!" is actually a very common Australian expression. So common in fact, that it appears it may have inadvertently been taken over as a concept by everyday Papua New Guineans. PNG newspapers are consistently full of complaints by people who want something done about the state of their country.
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Rather ask what you can do for your country," US President John F Kennedy was quoted as saying. So have we in Australia and PNG unwittingly become an 'Aorta' society? Where does the proverbial 'buck' stop?
In an old television series called 'Candid Camera', a hidden camera was focussed on a piece of paper lying on a busy public footpath next to a rubbish tin sporting a large 'Keep your city Clean' sign. 'Passes by' were filmed as they looked at the paper, the rubbish bin and then walked on by. Only a few were sufficiently public spirited enough to pick up the paper and put it in the bin. Some actually kicked the paper into the gutter.
Those that did actually pick the paper up and put it in the bin were immediately contacted by the camera crew to go and have another look at the paper which detailed a significant cash reward for those who helped clean up their city.
Now here comes the rub. Are we guilty of constantly asking why 'someone' isn't doing 'something' about our problems or are we prepared to do something ourselves?
The head of the Papua New Guinea Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Mr Timothy Bonga is quoted as saying on the presentation of his Committee's report to the PNG government: ""Frankly, we are sick of hearing about failure, theft, incompetence, impunity and rampant financial mischief."
Mr Bonga said: (the) "PAC had over the last 18 months undertaken a detailed examination of the standard of accounting and handling of public monies, property and stores in every agency of Government at all levels."
"We have inquired into nearly 1,000 agencies each examined the years 2003 to 2008, a huge and unique undertaking ... and for the first time we can now give the Government an accurate picture of the nation's financial management" PAC records show that it examined 33 departments, 25 subsidiary agencies including 19 provincial treasuries, 19 provincial governments, 303 local level governments, more than 400 districts, 19 urban authorities, 19 hospital boards and 116 statutory corporations' commercial entities and all trust accounts including royalty accounts."
Apparently only five agencies were able to pass the PAC's scrutiny.
So who does the proverbial 'buck' or 'Kina' stop with? Clearly it doesn't seem to stop with most PNG government agencies who apparently are unable to retain any semblance of integrity or public accountability. But is this only the PNG government's responsibility or one everyone must share?
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In The National
Five outstanding State agencies win PAC's praise
ONLY five out of 900 State agencies scrutinised by the permanent Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee performed well in the last four years.
"Of the hundreds of agencies we have examined, we can find only five agencies that maintained proper, lawful, auditable and reliable financial records," PAC chairman and Nawaeb MP Timothy Bonga said.
When making the grim revelation yesterday at its first hearing for 2010, Mr Bonga, supported by PAC members Sam Basil (Bulolo MP), Fr John Garia (Simbu Governor), Malcolm Kela-Smith (Eastern Highlands Governor) and Philip Kikala (Lagaip-Porgera), said fiscal management and accountability in Government agencies had collapsed.
"The evidence we have shows that fiscal management and accountability have collapsed," Mr Bonga stressed.
They collectively urged that something urgent needed to be undertaken to purge the Government systems and rekindle best practices to ensure service delivery and development were effectively pursued and achieved.
"Frankly, we are sick of hearing about failure, theft, incompetence, impunity and rampant financial mischief," Mr Bonga said.
He said PAC had over the last 18 months undertaken a detailed examination of the standard of accounting and handling of public monies, property and stores in every agency of Government at all levels.
"We have inquired into nearly 1,000 agencies each examined the years 2003 to 2008, a huge and unique undertaking ... and for the first time we can now give the Government an accurate picture of the nation's financial management," Mr Bonga said.
PAC records show that it examined 33 departments, 25 subsidiary agencies including 19 provincial treasuries, 19 provincial governments, 303 local level governments, more than 400 districts, 19 urban authorities, 19 hospital boards and 116 statutory corporations' commercial entities and all trust accounts including royalty accounts.
The five "best performing" are:
* Bank of Papua New Guinea;
* Institute of Public Administration;
* Alotau General Hospital Board;
* Goroka Base Hospital Board; and
* Post PNG.
Mr Bonga and his committee heaped praise on the five agencies and commended their management for a job well done.
"The committee congratulates you all on your performance and we only hope your achievement is contagious so other agencies can catch it and improve.
"The five agencies are examples of accountability and transparency in the use of public finances. Our purpose is to give credit where it is due and also to encourage others to improve," he said.
Representatives from these agencies who were present accepted the honour of being bestowed "best performing agencies" and vowed to maintain the record.
