The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) held a public servants’ awareness workshop last week in Kimbe, West New Britain Province, aimed at equipping provincial officials with the knowledge and tools to identify, prevent, and report corruption to the ICAC. 

The one-day workshop, hosted at Liamo Resort on the 24th of September, brought together participants from government including administrators, magistrates, and district leaders, civil society and private sector staff. Participants gained insight into the ICAC’s roles and functions and explored ways to collaborate with the Commission to strengthen integrity and accountability across the public sector. 

Provincial Administrator Leo Mapmani highlighted the importance of the program, pointing out that corruption often appears in everyday decision-making.  

“Leaders are sometimes cornered into decisions that may be perceived as corrupt, while public servants may act with bias and that is corruption,” he said.  

“All Section 32 officers in the province must exercise caution before signing relevant documents.” 

The workshop was officially opened by Governor Sasindran Muthuvel and Mr Mapmani, who also welcomed the ICAC’s presence in the province and pledged support for future workshops. They also encouraged the Commission to extend training to Section 32 officers, local-level government leaders, church representatives, and partner agencies. 

This was a significant session for the ICAC, being the first workshop in the province to include both the political head and administrative head alongside other senior officials.  

The Governor’s and Provincial Administrator’s opening remarks attracted strong online attention, with the livestream broadcast via the West New Britain NBC Facebook page, reaching over 3,500 viewers by the evening. 

For many participants, the workshop provided their first in-depth understanding of the ICAC’s mandate and investigative processes. It marked an important step in building partnerships with provincial officials to ensure corruption is reported and investigated, ultimately promoting good governance in the province.