On 22 November 2023, the Ombudsman Commission successfully delivered a presentation to all the elected Members of Parliament at the State Function Room of the National Parliament.
The presentation was done to create awareness to the Elected Leaders on their Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership and to enhance their understanding of the Leadership Code and its implications. The presentation was also done to assist the Leaders in making good decisions that can respond to the needs and aspirations of the people of Papua New Guinea.
The presentation was done in fulfilment of the Commission’s purpose under Section 218(d) of the Constitution and its leadership code supervision and enforcement function conferred by Sections 26, 27, 28(1) (b) and 219(1) (d) of the Constitution and Section 4 of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership
The presentation was focused on the issuance of Annual Statements to the leaders as required under 28(1) (b) of the Constitution and Section 4 of the Organic Law on the Ombudsman Commission where all leaders must be required to submit a statement of income of their financial position before them being appointed or elected as leaders and after appointed to the leadership position.
The presentation was attended by seventy-one (71) Members of Parliament which included Prime Minister Hon. James Marape MP, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso MP and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon Koni Iguan.
The Commission informed the leaders of the essential amendments made to the original Annual Statement form where the number of pages increased from 12 to 54 pages and it explained to them the justifications of doing those adjustments. The Commission advised them that the amendments were done to accommodate every requirement under Section 28(1) (b) of the Constitution and Section 4 of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership to establish a leader’s financial status in each reporting period.
It was a lively and interactive session where the leaders were provided the opportunity to engage with the Ombudsman Commission to express their views on the changes in the Annual Statement forms and the implications that the changes will have on them.
During the engagement, the Member for Nuku and Minister for Public Service Hon Joe Sungi MP asked if the Commission can digitize the Annual Statement forms to make them accessible to the leaders and the Chief Ombudsman answered his question that the current legal regimes have confidentiality provisions which restrict the Ombudsman Commission from digitizing the information. Chief Ombudsman added that because of the confidentiality provisions provided by constitutional laws, the Commission could not do much in digitizing the information because transferring such information into the cloud may pose a risk of such information being leaked out into the public space. Chief Ombudsman Pagen said that the Ombudsman Commission will only digitize if Parliament amends the Commission’s enabling laws and removes the confidentiality provisions to make information public.
Governor for the Morobe Province Hon. Luther Wenge mentioned during the session that there will be some reforms that will be done to the Ombudsman Commission in the coming years to boost its effectiveness. Chief Ombudsman Pagen replied to Governor Wenge’s suggestion and stressed that if the Parliament is adamant about reforming the Ombudsman Commission then they need to amend the 34 provisions in the Constitution which mentions the Ombudsman Commission and review and rewind all the decisions that the Commission made since its establishment in 1975 and the views of the people captured in the Constitutional Planning Committee Report.
Mr Pagen further elaborated the notion behind setting up the Ombudsman Commission in PNG which the Late Bernard Narokobi stated when establishing the Ombudsman Commission which focused on the “integrity of Leaders and Governmental Institutions and public perception towards them”. He gave an example of Late Narokobi’s statement and said; “What was a gentleman in a gentleman’s coat sleeping under the nurses’ quarter in the middle of the night”
Popondetta Member Hon. Richard Masere, Member for Markham and Deputy Speaker Hon. Koni Iguan asked questions about complaints being taken to the Ombudsman Commission by their political rivals and asked if it is proper for the Ombudsman Commission to accept such complaints and the Chief Ombudsman Mr Pagen answered the leader’s questions accordingly and stated that the Constitution and the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership do not specify who should register complaints and who should not register complaints against Leaders or governmental organizations and every complaint that comes to the Commission are treated with the same confidentiality level and assessed on their own merits.
The Member for Angoram and Minister for Forestry Hon. Salio Waipo called for an oversight body to look at the affairs of the Ombudsman Commission and Chief Mr Pagen responded to the leader that the Ombudsman Commission is not immune to scrutiny. The Commission can be currently held accountable by the Police, the Ombudsman Commission Appointments Committee, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the Auditor General, and most importantly the people of Papua New Guinea.
Prime Minister James Marape summed up the session by pledging the government’s continuous support for the work of the Ombudsman Commission and urged the members of Parliament not to fear the Ombudsman Commission but to follow the law.
The Ombudsman Commission’s presentation highlighted its commitment to transparency, clarification of the amendment of the Annual Statement Forms and addressing of concerns raised by MPs. The government’s pledge of support and encouragement for adherence to the law concluded the event on a positive note.
End….
