NCJ Number
111473
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1988) Pages: 6-13
Date Published
1988
Length
8 pages
Annotation
In 1975, the Ombudsman Commission of Papua New Guinea was created as a constitutional device to combat corruption and maintain the highest standard of integrity among even the highest Government leaders.
Abstract
The Commission seeks to ensure that all governmental bodies are responsive to the needs of the people, improve the work of Government bodies and eliminate unfairness and discrimination by them, eliminate unfair or otherwise defective legislation and practices, and supervise enforcement of the Leadership Code. The Commission was given very broad powers of supervision and control, including almost unlimited power to obtain, investigate, and enforce the Leadership Code, thus preventing bribery, corruption, abuse of power for personal gain, and misappropriation of funds. On the average, the Commission receives about 377 complaints per month, ranging from minor complaints to serious complaints of public corruption. However, the Commission has been hampered in its enforcement of the Leadership Code because of funding constraints. Enforcement is further limited by loopholes in the constitutional law that will require amendment if the Commission is to be effective.