Appreciation Gifts In Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, the line between appreciation gifts and bribes is murky, as shown by friends who offered police money as gratitude, not as a bribe for unjust detention release.

Appreciation Gifts in Papua New Guinea

Written by Mr. Neko Babul.

In Papua New Guinea, it’s common to express gratitude for exceptional service not just with a handshake, but also with gifts. To illustrate the difference between an appreciation gift and a bribe, let me share a true story.

One Friday afternoon, a group of friends gathered at a Waigani residence for their usual post-work beer session. Around 8:00 pm, after finishing two cartons of beer, they decided to head out onto the road leading from Waigani to Morata. Earlier, a street brawl had taken place at that spot, prompting a police call.

The police, arriving late as usual, missed the troublemakers and instead picked up the innocent friends, locking them up in the Waigani cell. Before dawn on Saturday morning, one of the friends found a folded 20 kina note hidden in his underwear waistband. The group decided to offer this money to the station commander in hopes of securing their release, believing they were innocent.

The conversation with the station commander went like this: “Sorry boss, this here is the only money we could find amongst ourselves. We want to offer the money to you to release us to go home to our families. Thank you, boss.”

The station commander, a fellow Manus wantok, responded: “Now hear, this is not a bribe to release you all. I will accept it as appreciation money for locking you up overnight for your own safety.”

The friends, having sobered up overnight in the cell, then made their way home to their families.

To conclude, a gift is a gift when given after a good deed, in addition to the customary handshake after the service has been rendered. If a gift is offered beforehand to induce a favorable outcome of a transaction or service, that is a bribe and a step towards corruption in the process of service deliveries, sales, and services.

Reflection

Was the cash a bribe or a token of appreciation for release from the cell? The context and timing of the gift are crucial in distinguishing between an appreciation gift and a bribe. Given after the fact, as in this story, it can be seen as a token of gratitude. However, if offered beforehand to secure release, it would be considered a bribe.

I look forward to seeing your views.