THE commission of inquiry (COI) into the Finance Department must not be allowed to be derailed.
Its main focus is to investigate into the issues for which the COI was established, Trade Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary John Paska said yesterday.
“Without stressing the obvious, the commission of inquiry into the Finance Department is the most audacious exercise any Government could undertake,” Mr Paska said, while reiterating the statement made by the TUC president Michael Malabag on the same issue.
Mr Paska’s comments were made in support of Mr Malabag’s statement that large amounts of salary payouts had been made to the COI staff, who have yet to complete their inquiry and produce the report.
The 30-member COI staff, during the first part of taking up office to look into the management of the Finance Department, were paid out during the period from Jan 1, 2000 to June 31, 2006.
Some of the staff members were said to have been receiving salaries totalling between K6,000 and K12,000 per day, tax- free.
In addition to this, the COI had further requested more funds to go ahead with its inquiry.
This had led the two trade union leaders to express grave concerns this week.
“This amount and tax arrangement is mind-boggling and outrageous….The fact that the payments are not taxed is even more alarming and incomprehensible,” Mr Paska said.
Both men emphasised that from a public policy stand point, the COI should categorically make a bold statement as to the Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance.
“For this very reason, the COI must not be allowed to be derailed by a few who should be responsible for the nation and the people ,” Mr Paska said.
“In this regard, it is perhaps the most important vehicle of transparency any Government can embark upon as it places the Government and your leadership in the forefront of public scrutiny and erases any doubt about your commitments to uphold transparency and accountability,” Mr Malabag said in his letter to Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare this week.
Mr Malabag is urging the Prime Minister to review the COI and put in a new staff structure with another new membership for the inquiry, employing personnel from the broader cross-section of the community.
According to Mr Malabag, the new staff would include key sectoral groups such as the Government, businessmen and church people.