The role of the ICAC is to investigate and prosecute corrupt conduct and to carry out anti-corruption awareness and prevention activities.  

Belinda Hughes, the Executive Director Legal Division of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), met with the Gulf Provincial Coordination and Monitoring Committee in Kerema on 20 March 2024. 

“Corruption takes away money for services to the people. This means that money is in people’s pockets when it is supposed to be used for roads and hospitals,” she said. 

She added that the Organic Law on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (OLICAC) applies to all public officials and public bodies as well as private individuals/entities who may have influence on the use of public money or otherwise. 

Ms Hughes and the Committee members had a productive question and answer session, including questions about the ICAC’s coercive powers under the OLICAC. She advised that committee members could be required to produce documents, materials, or thing for purposes of investigations or enquiries even if they did not receive or misuse public money but have one way or the other facilitated the use of public money.  

She further added that PNG ranks poorly on the global scale with a ranking of 29 out of 100, a ranking which is just above the countries currently at war.  

“This shows that we have a lot to do to improve PNG’s ranking. And it cannot be done by ICAC alone. We need everyone to work together to lower the level of corruption in the country,” she said. 

While in Kerema, the ICAC also visited a local school and delivered mugs and sports equipment to the teachers and students.