transparency papua responds to concerns

NEWS Transparency International in Papua New Guinea has agreed that allegations of conflicts of interest among country reports authors may be a concern. "Of course TI is against anyone writing in its name who has a conflict of interest," says PNG TI chairman Mike Manning in a response to questions. Manning goes on to state that because there is only one allegation, this "means that the rest do not have such conflict." STRUGGLING Manning also states that Transparency International in Papua New Guinea is "an NGO struggling for our existence." PNG TI is "sensitive to criticism and try to take on board any suggestions that will improve our performance. But we are an NGO, we have limited funds, a few dedicated staff who are flat out holding our heads above water and the task is limitless as well as thankless." He recommended seeking comment to Dr Peter Larmour at the Australia National University, which commissioned country reports on the Pacific Islands. FIRST His is the first - and so far the only - response from a national chapter to questions over the concerns about conflicts of interest among authors of country reports. Daily newspaper Cook Islands News first raised the issue in 2004, when it published a story about that year's country report. In the newspaper story, it was pointed out that the report was authored by the sister of a man who was chief negotiator for the then Sheraton Hotel project, in what became the country's biggest corruption scandal. The scandal was not mentioned once in the country report, which instead blamed problems on "traditional attitudes." ANOTHER CONFLICT Follow up questions sent by Avaiki News Agency got no response from Transparency International, despite three or so attempts over the last three years. A report co-author was also identified as having conflicts of interest, having acted as a commissioner for the country's offshore banking industry, suspected of secretly funding political parties and other corrupt practices. Finally, earlier this month, questions were sent to more than 90 national chapters outlining the allegations. GLARING GAPS Deep conflicts of interest and glaring gaps in country reports would seem to be allegations of concern to an organisation concerning itself with attacking corruption. However, the lack of response risks leaving an impression that Transparency International is less than transparent when it comes to its own affairs. Following is the response from PNG chairman Mike Manning, in full. MIKE MANNING RESPONSE "Dear Jason, "I have voted in your survey and want to make a couple of points. "1. The fact that only one of a number of reports is alleged to be written by someone with a conflict of interest means that the rest do not have such conflict. "2. Of course TI is against anyone writing in its name who has a conflict of interest and you query should be to Dr Peter Larmour at the ANU who coordinated the project rather than TI which can hardly be expected to vet the names of all persons involved in a project and even less to be able to conduct a fit and proper persons test on them. We are, after all, an NGO struggling for our existence. "3. Your website implies that we do not try to keep our house in order or look critically at all aspects of our work. Let me assure you that TIPNG has an annual strategy session where we do exactly that, analyse our past performance, what we achieved and what failures we have had. "From there we plan our net five year rolling plan and next year's activities. We are sensitive to criticism and try to take on board any suggestions that will improve our performance. But we are an NGO, we have limited funds, a few dedicated staff who are flat out holding our heads above water and the task is limitless as well as thankless. "Yours sincerely, "Mike Manning" Michael Manning OL, OBE Mirel Ltd PO Box 1428, Kokopo, ENB PAPUA NEW GUINEA PH/Fax: 9829428 Mobile 6903798