The Public Servant Syndrome

By Sylvester Gawi

With due respect to all the hardworking public servants working under trying conditions in both rural and urban settings throughout Papua New Guinea, I am writing to highlight some uncalled actions of few bad apples in the public service.

Have you ever get frustrated when you go to a government office and you're told that this particular officer has gone out for lunch? When you try to get assistance from a government officer and he/she ask you for a buai, smoke or lunch money etc in return for the service rendered? Or you pay for a police officer for your safety?



It is reality everywhere you go throughout the country that the service delivery mechanisms are not working properly because of the people placed there to look after and make the system work.

Wantok system and bribery have corrupted all levels of the public service procedure and those placed in the system are manipulating it to suit their own interests and of certain individuals.

There have been reports and allegations of senior public servants' being involved in receiving fraudulent payments for services and officers as well implicated in illegal deals like land grabbing etc. But none of these officers or even a public office of a department has set precedent in taking lawful actions against all those involved. Instead it seems every drama can be swept under the carpet and left to grow it's own legs out of the corridor and onto the streets.

Some who have been facing legal proceedings are still in charge of the system and what change are we expecting to happen for the better?

There are instances when public servants don't spend the whole day in their offices but are seen loitering around the buai market, horse race and pokies bars etc and you realised that's the extended lunch hours.

I dont want to criticize but public servants are lazy and irresponsible.


Many people say public servants are the most corrupt than private company employees, because most of them get paid for doing nothing. That's official corruption - tax payers money wasted on someone who is a liability to the people and nation of Papua New Guinea.

It is beneficial for everyone to understand that corruption starts from an individual and working for the people puts us in a better position to give the best for our people.

Always remember that everyone from the subsistence farmer in the village to the mother selling ice blocks in the street have contributed a toea each to the country's purse. So when it comes to getting rid of the corruption in our country, public servants take the center stage because you make the system works to serve our people.

PLEASE STOP THE PUBLIC SYNDROME... STOP THE MENTALITY OF I CAN GET PAID FOR DOING NOTHING... IT IS A PUBLIC OFFICE AND YOU OWE IT TO THE PEOPLE OF PNG








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