Papua New Guinea has significant poverty, with about half the population living on less than US$3.65 a day. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
A leadership and governance advocate has called out successive Papua New Guinean leaders and governments for failing to "fix the system that keeps our people struggling".
PNG marked 50 years of independence last month, with major celebrations taking place across the country, described as "one massive joyous party".
Prime Minister James Marape admitted that "we have shortcomings" during his Independence Day address on 17 September.
"I admit in our progress [in] the last 50 years, we still have many pockets of poverty, many pockets of isolation, many pockets of Papua New Guinea are unconnected with each other," he said.
In a letter to the editor published by Post-Courier on Thursday, Reginald Renagi said after 50 years of nationhood the country "remains trapped in poverty, corruption, and poor governance".
"The sad truth is that PNG is now a failing state - betrayed by its own leaders and institutions," he said.
"Our greatest enemy is not a foreign army. It is corruption and poverty. These have crippled our economy, weakened state institutions, and destroyed trust in leadership."
Renagi claimed billions of dollars have been lost to "bribery, ghost projects, and money laundering" at the expense of ordinary Papua New Guineans.
Earlier this month, Bank of PNG governor raised the issue of PNG being "grey listed" as soon as early next year by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) - the global body that sets standards for fighting money laundering.
He also took aim at the PNG government's latest security pact - the Pukpuk Treaty - with Australia, saying the country needed a "corruption treaty" instead to "track, expose, and recover stolen public funds hidden overseas".
"Australia already has strong anti-corruption and financial intelligence systems that can help PNG identify those responsible for looting national resources and bring them to justice."
According to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index - the most widely used global corruption ranking - PNG (127/180) is ranked alongside some of the most corrupt nations in the world. It has a score of 31/100 for perceived level of public sector corruption, according to experts and businesspeople.
Poverty is a driving factor for food insecurity and violence, according to Save the Children. Photo: RNZI
The country, with an estimated population of 11 million, has significant poverty, with about half the population living on less than US$3.65 a day. It is a driving factor for food insecurity and violence, according to Save the Children.
According to the World Bank, " 71.1 percent of the population was living in poverty".
"This is due to the high rate of monetary poverty, low educational achievement, and most of the population having no access to electricity."
The high cost of living, rising unemployment and crime also contribute to the challenges plaguing PNG society.
Renagi wants to see reforms for PNG to turn things around, including setting term limits for the prime minister's role, ensuring public sector appointments are on merit, and collaborating with partners, like Australia, to recover stolen funds.
"A defence treaty with Australia will not defend PNG from the real enemy within. Corruption has done more damage to this nation than any external threat ever could," he said.
The PNG parliament passed its anti-corruption legislation in November 2020, which gave life to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), just 18 months after Marape took office.
In June, the prime minister said: "Our commitment to fighting corruption remains firm."
