Basil queries delay on finance inquiry report and actions

Deputy Leader of Opposition and Bulolo MP Sam Basil has called on the Government to explain the delay on what is the most-expensive and prolonged commission of inquiry – the one into the Department of Finance since 2007.

"Many months and many millions of kina went into the Commission of Inquiry into the Department of Finance. And what have we got to show for it?" Basil said.

The Inquiry was looking into over 3000 entries recorded in the Finance Department's Cash Book Report of transactions of K300,000 and above from 1 January 2000 to 31 July 2006.

This was later expended.

"We cannot implement its recommendations. People who have committed crimes cannot even be charged. Money that should not have been paid cannot be recovered," a concerned Mr Basil said.

The Bulolo MP described as "puzzling" the fact that a successful court order was made to effectively "put a lock on that report" when millions (up to K10 million) was already spent to ensure that hearings and findings were recorded.

"Many people in this nation are no doubt suspicious about that order: how it came to be made, when it came to be made and where it came to be made," Basil added.

"But we, of the Opposition, respect the fact that a judge of the National Court chose to make such an order. The questions which must now be asked, given the many months which have elaspsed since that order was made, are (1) why has nothing been done about that order? and (2) when will something be done?"

The Deputy Opposition Leader added: "If the gag order was made as a temporary order by a National Court judge then the matter should have been taken before another judge with an application to set that order aside. Alternatively, the order of the National Court should have been the subject of an appeal to the Supreme Court, coupled with a request to have the matter heard as a matter of urgency."

The opposition pointed out that the directions to follow-up falls within the duty statement or jurisdiction of the Minister for Justice and Attorney General Hon Sir Arnold Amet.

"This is an area for which the Attorney General is responsible. As a former Chief Justice, the learned lawyer, cannot use ignorance of the law and judicial process as an excuse," Basil said.

"If the Attorney General cannot entrust this instructions to the State Solicitor to try to get rid of this gag order because of potential conflict of interest arising from contents of the Commission of Inquiry Report, what's to stop Sir Arnold outsourcing the matter for a private law firm to do something about it as soon as possible?" He said.

"But the bottom line is: millions of taxpayers' money – supposed to be used for the benefit of the people – has been abused in questionable ways by those entrusted to ensure proper usage. These public servants – and their political masters – are all paid to do these jobs," Mr Basil said.

"If they failed and mishandled funds, they must face the consequences of their actions. The Commission of Inquiry cost the taxpayers another K10 million or so to hear, ascertain and determine its findings. The people cannot be double-denied justice because no one is attempting to free the report from the court gagging," Basil said.

Health is next

Abal demands answers over use of donor funds

 

ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal has ordered an investigation into allegations of gross abuse and mismanagement of funds earmarked for Papua New Guinea under the Global Fund for the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, The National reports.

He directed Health Minister Sasa Zibe, in a letter last week, for an urgent report on the allegations.

He reiterated that if found to contain gross irregularities, abuse and mismanagement, he would instruct for a full inquiry into the administration of the funds.

Adamant to see his undertaking through and to ensure Papua New Guinea safeguarded its credibility as a legi-timate and credible donor-recipient country, Abal had demanded an urgent response from Zibe.

“I have directed the health minister to look into this allegation and report to me immediately on whether the allegation is true,” Abal said.

Abal said: “I am concerned that unless the government takes full cognizance and control of this matter, we stand to lose our legitimacy as a worthy, credible and trusted recipient of international donor aid and technical assistance.

“If unscrupulous persons are involved, they will be identified and dealt with severely.

“Appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken to stop such practices,” the acting prime minister said.

“I want our institutions of government to be good and trusted custodians of financial support being made available to assist PNG by international organisations, charitable groups, governments and philanthropic organisations to help improve our social conditions such as health.”

Global Fund this month decided to select a new principle recipient to carry out some of the financial and administrative responsibilities previously carried out by the Health Department.

This followed allegations that the department was mismanaging the grants.

Abal said: “These are monies meant to complement the government’s own effort to reduce life-threatening scourges and epidemics such as HIV/AIDS that focuses ultimately on making this nation a healthy and progressive nation.

“Monies for purposes such as this must be governed with accountability of purpose.

“As acting Prime Minister, I will not tolerate such practices going on inside government instrumentalities.

“There are enough examples around us and we must seek collective resolve to stop such malpractices once and for all,” Abal said.

 

Car theft turns ugly for youths

Carjacking ends in disaster … Paramedics from the St John Ambulance service in Port Moresby attending to two wounded suspects (pictured left and right) after an exchange of gunfire with police yesterday following an alleged carjacking incident. Another suspect, who is lying next to the right rear wheel of the stolen dark blue CRV, reportedly died. However, there were no external wounds on the dead person to justify him being shot. Two others fled on foot when they were cornered near the Tokam Police Barracks

at Waigani. – Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU

 

By ANGELINE KARIUS

 

A SUSPECT is dead while two others suffered gunshot wounds in a shootout with police outside the Tokam Police Barracks in Port Moresby yesterday, The National reports.

The three were part of a gang believed to have stolen a dark-blue CRV, registration BCF 474, at Gerehu yesterday afternoon.

Police gave chase from the university roundabout at about 2pm.

Police reportedly returned fire after the suspects began shooting, wounding two in the process, one died after being cornered and disarmed while two others fled the scene.

Police could not confirm whether the man who died at the scene was shot.

The five men were caught when their getaway vehicle ran off the road and into a ditch along Cormorant Street, opposite the Boreboa Primary School after crashing into several other vehicles, including a police double-cab utility.

The shootout attracted hundreds of people from the neighbourhood with police directing traffic at the intersection between Cormorant and Pitpit streets in the North Waigani area.

Several support units from police stations around Port Moresby responded to the carjacking when the matter was reported and relayed on police radio.

NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop could not be reached for comments.

Agiru called on to explain investigation

By YVONNE HAIP

 

PARENTS and teachers in Southern Highlands are calling on Governor Anderson Agiru to explain why the findings of an investigation team into falling education standards have yet to be made public, The National reports.

The provincial government sanctioned an investigation in January to look into the drop in standards of education in the province.

The investigation team was set up after examination results showed the pass rate of students in secondary schools was in a downward spiral.

But James Waiya Mange, who taught for more than 40 years, said the investigating team had yet to start work.

Speaking on behalf of parents, concerned citizens, teachers, boards of governors and other stakeholders, he said the long delay, especially as it was already mid-year, was a concern.

He said school examinations were around the corner once term two ended and the findings of the investigation needed to be made known.

He said the very poor output of all provincial secondary schools showed Grade 10 and Grade 12 marks continued to drop.

He said that resulted in most students missing out on spaces in tertiary institutions.

Mange said the prompt action taken by the governor and his administration in appointing and funding the team of investigators had been timely, the people had yet to know the probe’s results.

He said if the provincial administration had attended to all its obligations, there would not have been unnecessary delay as it was taking five months to get the committee assembled in Mendi and move into the districts.

He said along with the progress of the rich LNG project, the province needed to build its human resources so that the younger generation could take part meaningfully as the project developed.

 

Polye, Duma deny sacking

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

PAPUA New Guinea is a thriving democracy that does not allow for blackmail, pressure or intimidation of leaders, ousted Foreign Affairs Minister and Kandep MP Don Polye said yesterday, The National reports.

Polye made it clear that leadership "is not a tradable commodity and cannot be sold, bought and given on a golden platter".

He said this when denying media reports of being threatened to hand over the deputy leadership of National Alliance Party to acting Prime Minister Sam Abal.

Polye, who arrived from South Korea, said in a joint media conference with ousted Petroleum Minister William Duma that they refused to comment on media speculation of their sackings.

Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal confirmed yesterday that the two ministers had been removed from their respective ministries and that he was considering other candidates as replacement.

They claimed to be an integral part of government.

Polye was visited in the VIP lounge by Momase deputy leader Patrick Pruaitch, who gave an assurance of the stability of the National Alliance deputy leaders.

"National Alliance is in sympathy with our leader who is in hospital. Whatever that came out in the media, we refuse to believe, we went through thick and thin to get this government in place," Polye said.

He denied having discussions with Labour and Industrial Relations Minister Sani Rambi on the leadership issue.

Duma said that he was leader of the United Resource Party, which had been very loyal to the prime minister and a party that was a signatory to the Warangoi Accord on the formation of government in Kokopo.

"At this stage, I cannot be making any comment.

"I am loyal and no politician can question my loyalty unlike some National Alliance MPs who have question marks over their integrity," Duma said.

"I have not been informed of my purported sacking. I cannot comment on something that has not been conveyed to me personally."

Duma said, as leader of a political party in the coalition government, courtesy demanded he was told of any political changes.

"What I am saying is that the media is lying about the whole thing.

"We are the government and we are an integral part of government."

Duma refused to pre-empt any action by the United Resources Party based on the media reports.

 

 

Abal: Sacking is now official

ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal yesterday confirmed the sacking of two senior cabinet ministers, The National reports.

Gone are Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Don Polye and Minister for Petroleum and Energy William Duma.

"I have exercised my full powers as acting prime minister to remove the portfolio responsibilities from Polye and Duma," Abal said.

"However, they still remain members of their parties in government."

Polye and Duma, in a joint press conference, expressed disbelief and said they had not been informed of their removal as ministers (see page 2 report).

"I signed instruments of revocation of these portfolios last week," Abal said.

"I am considering filling in the vacancies that have been created."

Abal said stability of government was paramount.

"Discipline and control are needed to maintain assertive leadership.

"Over the few months that I have been tasked by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to lead government, discipline has been lacking in cabinet.

"There must be cohesion, consolidation and solidarity in government.

"We are a coalition government and we must have the zeal to work together for the good of our people.

"I have observed ministers causing insubordination to the extent that they are not cooperating in the job of governing this country for the common good of our people.

"They are not putting national interest before their own.

"It is my duty to ensure discipline in cabinet is maintained without allowing personal leadership interests to stand in the way, and for cooperative leadership from all coalition partners, for the common good of all Papua New Guineans.

"I am forced to demonstrate leadership authority to make decisions that satisfies more people than just a few.

"I must demonstrate control of government as well as for the sake of the country," Abal said.

 

 

Babuaf people celebrate aid post, staff house and water supply projects opening

Caption: No more travelling long distances – the Babuaf aid post packed with people last Friday

 

Throbbing kundu drums, tribal chants and a magical display of fine traditional regalia marked the opening of a new aid post, staff house and water supply projects for the people of Wonkins and Kapunung last Friday.

It was a proud occasion for the Babuaf communities from the Lower Watut Region in Morobe province as it also marked the construction and completion of 14 water supply projects for the other villages.

This was witnessed by an emotional Wampar local level government president,Peter Namus, Morobe provincial government (MPG) provincial programme advisor health Dr Likei Theo and representatives from Lutheran Development Services (LDS) and Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV).

Centrally located at Wongkins, the aid post will serve 10 villages including Pekumbe, Malarina, Tsilitsili, Mafanazo, Uruf, Benseng, Wampan, Chiatz and Kapungung and will be staffed and receive medical supplies from the MPG district health services programme.

The projects were funded by MMJV and constructed by LDS with the villagers contributing sweat equity that saw the project through to completion.

The water supplies were constructed by LDS while the villagers build the aid post and the staff house. 

Many were unable to stem the flow of tears, as the occasion marked the beginning of the end of many years of difficult traveling that had unfortunately claimed the lives of many villagers, including children, mothers and babies during child birth.

Namus, when addressing the people, stressed the need for government and communities to strengthen ties and work with development partners such as MMJV and non-government organisations such as LDS to help facilitate service delivery to the people.

Namus said it took more than 30 years for such services to come to the area.

“By building standards, the aid post may seem small; but by its very nature it is a significant development project for us as a people,” he said.

Dr Theo echoed Namus, saying there had not been any real service provided for the people of Lower Watut for many years.

“This is the result of working together!

“ Creating partnerships with organisations and in this case, partnership with MMJV and LDS where we are fortunate to receive the aid post and water supplies,” he said.

MMJV’s community and regional development projects manager, Romias Mills Waki said the occasion signified positive achievements and progress.

Again stressing the theme of partnerships,  Waki said through interaction with government, NGOs and most importantly with the support of people and their leaders, MMJV were able to implement the projects.

“The company will not take over the role of the government to deliver services but is committed to work together through partnerships that would enable delivery of vital services to the local people, bearing in mind it has to be tied into wards, LLG districts, provincial and national government plans and priorities.”

He  commended the people and encouraged them to take care of the infrastructure.