Work on setting up the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is moving steadily ahead as appointments were made this week for the three top positions – Commissioner and two deputy Commissioners.
Although no names are being announced at this point until letters of formalization have been exchanged, Prime Minister James Marape called it “a historic decision” as he oversaw the appointments at the ICAC Appointments Committee meeting he convened this morning in his capacity as Chairman.
The meeting saw him receive the report containing the recommendations from the Independent Interview Panel, headed by Chairman Peter Aitsi. He said: “It is a historic decision today. We have made the appointments for the Commissioner and two Deputy Commissioners to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
We are now in the process of issuing the letter of appointments and finally completing the process. “This is a good Christmas gift to the people of Papua New Guinea since the late Siaguru talked about setting up ICAC in the late 1980s, and seven prime ministers before me have passed through with no ICAC delivery.
“But under my time, the ICAC Bill was taken to Parliament and passed, and I want to thank the leaders who stood with me on the 30 November 2020 to pass this law which went through the process in 2021, and now it is progressing to the full appointment of the three commissioners.
“It has taken us seven months for the process to be completed. We needed to do it above politics in a fair, open and transparent manner. “An independent recruitment agency was appointed, well over 229 applications received, both locally and internationally, and processed through an independent appointments committee headed by Transparency International chairman Peter Aitsi and assisted by Department of Personnel Management Secretary.
“Six names have come to the Appointments Committee and three were picked. “Let me also indicate that this was also the first time that a process of appointment had to use a computerized psychometric test on the ability of the candidates to deliver on the expected outcomes to fight corruption.
“In my commendation to the Appointments Committee, I said this law is my generation of leaders’ best gift to the country.
“I am working to build roads, classrooms, and all those others but setting up this law, in my view, is the best thing I could have done for the country. We need to fight corruption and prosecute those who commit corruption in our country.
“So finally, before Christmas 2022, we have made the appointment for the three commissioners – one Commissioner and two Deputy Commissioners.
“Next year, we will fully fund ICAC and have it up and running in full,” said the Prime Minister.
The Appointments Committee comprises the following office holders:
• The Prime Minister
• The Leader of the Opposition
• The Chief Justice
• The Chair of the Public Services Commission and
• The Chair of the Papua New Guinea Council of Churches To ensure a credible and arms-length process in the recruitment of ICAC commissioners, the Appointments Committee decided to invite a panel of five (5) highly qualified and reputable people to form the Independent Interview Panel and to engage an external recruitment agency CC Pacific Ltd via a competitive tender process to manage, coordinate and conduct the recruitment of ICAC commissioner.
The recruitment notice was widely advertised in Papua New Guinea’s major daily newspapers as required in the OLICAC Act and also published in newspapers in Australia and New Zealand. These advertisements were further supported by posts on online recruitment platforms as well as direct approaches to anti-corruption agencies and similar types of law enforcement agencies.
A total of 229 applications were received – 104 from PNG and 124 from overseas candidates to fill the positions of Commissioner and the two Deputy Commissioner roles. The recruitment firm undertook the initial screening to arrive at a long list and this list was further assessed by the Independent Interview Panel to settle on a short list to progress to the interview stage.
At all times, the Independent Interview Panel members conducted themselves in a highly professional manner, demonstrating individuality of thought and being very mindful of the importance of their task.
The Independent Interview Panel consisted of the following people:
• Mr. Peter John Aitsi MBE – Chair
• Ms. Taies Sansan – Vice Chair
• Dame Meg Taylor DBE – Member
• His Honour Justice Les Gavara-Nanu OBE CSM – Member
• Mr. Frawley Terrence DPS, QPM – Member
“The panel is confident the process undertaken has been rigorous and comprehensive, culminating today with the handing over of the final report and recommendations to the Appointments Committee. We commend the report to the Ap