OPPOSITION WELCOMES ESTABLISHMENT OF ANTI-CORRUPTION BODY
Opposition Leader Hon. Jeremiah Manele. Photo credit: Office of the Opposition.
The Parliamentary Opposition has welcomed the announcement made by the Prime Minister to establish an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Opposition Leader Jeremiah Manele said the Opposition group fully supports the establishment of an ICAC.
He says for many years, undetected and unchecked corruption in the public sector has caused serious damage to this country.
Mr Manele says, corruption has caused operation inefficiencies, undermined public trust in government and has exhausted public resources and money.
He adds it is causing injustice through advantaging some at the expense of others.
Mr. Manele says the shadow government welcomes the announcement by the Prime Minister and the DCC Government as a step to reduce the tide of corruption in the country.
The Opposition Leader says the initiative is overdue and the need is inevitable.
Meanwhile, Mr Manele says prompt action must be taken now and the DCC Government must live up to its word.
He says this assurance is timely when the country is entangled in corruption, undermining the effectiveness of a vibrant government and private sector machineries for quality delivery of service to the people who matter most.
But the MP for Hograno Kia Havulei says once established, the ICAC should not take over the responsibilities of existing government anti-corruption agencies.
He says while ICAC should complement the responsibilities of the other agencies, other anti-corruption institutions should also be enhanced.