Corruption a sickness among leaders, says former MP

Senior statesman and former Lae MP, Bart Philemon, pointed out a scathing assessment of the country’s leadership, describing corruption as a sickness deeply embedded within the political class.

Speaking at the Momase Regional Development Forum in Madang, Mr. Philemon said Papua New Guinea’s development will remain stagnant until there is a fundamental change in leadership attitude.

The veteran politician became visibly emotional during the opening of the two-day forum, hosted by the Consultative, Implementation and Monitoring Council [CIMC], as students from Holy Spirit Primary School performed the National Anthem.

Philemon told participants he holds grave concerns for the next generation if the current trajectory of governance continues.

“Papua New Guinea can never be truly free, and I cannot see a future for the children of this beautiful country if our leaders in government do not change their attitudes,” he said.

The former parliamentarian said the second verse of the National Anthem, which speaks of freedom, deeply affects him because he believes that freedom is undermined by a lack of political integrity.

“I personally do not believe that Papua New Guinea can be free when there is no political integrity amongst leaders,” he said.

The forum, aimed at regional development and policy monitoring, was attended by various stakeholders who were urged by the former MP to address the sickness of corruption to ensure the country moves forward.