Page 11 - IB AUG 2018

Political Brief - PNG

Mendi controller wants police to return

CONTROLLER of the country’s emergency disaster restoration
team, Dr Bill Hamblin is calling on the police investigators to
go back to Mendi to complete the job and make arrests as his
office will fund the operation.
Dr Hamblin is also calling on the constabulary to come up
with a genuine budget seeking assistance to fund the police
operation in Mendi as his office is ready to help.
He said this in response to the Post-Courier front page report
that police investigators involved in the Mendi town mayhem
and others were forced to withdraw due to lack of government Riots in Mendi town as youths vent their anger &
funding. Dr Bill Hamblin destroyed billboards displaying the face of O’neil
Photo:
Dr Hamblin said, in an interview, that while his state of Loop Pacific www.looppng.com & SHP Governor William Powi
emergency is in force and active, the Thomas Eluh-led state Photo: twitter.com/pes moni
of emergency is not effective and therefore the constabulary should have consulted his office if they needed assistance.
He said police have a duty to the public and the nation and
therefore they need to go back and complete their work by
investigating and making arrest of all those involved in the
destructions in Mendi.
“I want them to go and arrest those responsible for the
destruction and looting of K2 million (US$615,000) worth of
relief supplies in a warehouse in Mendi and therefore I will
fund the allowances and accommodation of the policemen
involved in the operation.
“I’m happy to see police come here. They have not come
to ask for help to pay for the TA and the accommodation of
the officers engaged to do a good work of addressing law and
Armed crowds burned an airplane, looted a warehouse & torched buildings.
Photo: www.abc.net.au order in Mendi. We’ll be happy to fund it,” Dr Hamblin said.
Cracking down on corruption Relations with Indonesia strong
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government has sent its strongest INDONESIAN Ambassador Ronald Manik says bilateral rela-
message yet that it is cracking down on corruption as part of tionships between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are “very
getting referendum ready. Chief Secretary Joseph Nobetau said strong.” He said this during celebration of Indonesia’s 73rd
corruption must stop now. “Four more Department Heads have independence anniversary at the Indonesian Embassy in Port
been petitioned for allegations of serious misconduct, matters Moresby. The event included a flag-raising ceremony.
that are now subject to Independent Boards of Inquiry established
under the Bougainville Senior Appointments Act,” Nobetau said. Bougainville President welcomes review
“Corruption is not only against the law. It is stealing from Bou-
gainville – it is selling out on our dream, our future, and the idea BOUGAINVILLE President John Momis has welcomed news that
that we are destined for a higher level of behaviour.” The Chief the independent experts undertaking the Second Joint Autonomy
Secretary said one of the biggest issues faced this year has been Review have arrived in PNG. “We welcome the valuable contribu-
the uncovering of mass payroll fraud. “An independent audit by tion that these experts will make for progressing the joint imple-
the National Departments of Personnel Management and Finance mentation of autonomy arrangements as per the Bougainville
has now revealed our worst fears,” Nobetau said. “Bougainvillean Peace Agreement,” President Momis said. Momis assured people
public servants have been stealing from government and selling that the purpose of the review was not to change any part of the
out Bougainville over many years – claiming allowances they Bougainville Peace Agreement. “
were not entitled to, paying salaries well in excess of their clas-
sification level, paying themselves and not turning up for work.” No APEC ‘lockdown’ in PNG
NO lockdown during APEC summit in Papua New Guinea in
Extra seats likely in next election November. That is the official word from Minister for APEC Justin
NEW electorates are expected to be added to the 89 current ones Tkatchenko and Police Commissioner Gari Baki. They said the
when the general election is held in 2022, according to a Papua continuous rumours of a “lockdown” in Port Moresby, spurned
New Guinea minister. William Samb, the Minister assisting the by social media, was “absolute rubbish.” There will be no area
Prime Minister on Bougainville Affairs and Constitutional Matters, blocked for public usage except areas where the meetings will be
said it was part of the new electoral reforms. The new elector- held, businesses and offices will not be affected by the week-long
ates, the result of the splitting into two of some of the current meeting,” Tkatchenko said. This is because the two main days of
big electorates around the country, will be announced soon. “The the world leaders meeting are Saturday and Sunday, November
process of electoral reform in PNG must be completed prior to 17 and 18, when many day-to-day business operations, jobs
the conduct of the 2022 national election. The electoral reform is and schools are off.
crucial in ensuring that the electoral process is fair and transpar- On top of that, November 15 and 16 have been declared public
ent, and the management of elections is seen to be efficient and holidays when most of the world leaders would arrive. APEC
effective,” Samb said. Leaders’ Summit runs from November 12 to 18.

Islands Business,August 2018 11