| Business |
Time for decisive action on SHP
Public servants who turned up to work
in the Agiru Centre in Mendi were turned away yesterday after
security forces locked the gates into the seven-storey building
following a confrontation between supporters of two administrators
who are laying claim to the top public service job in the
province.
The building was shut down, apparently to prevent a clash between
supporters of William Powi and Alphonse Hayabe, who had gathered
around the building to await their man getting into office. The
tension between the two factions has the potential to escalate
into violence of a grand scale, a grave concern for residents and
businesses who reside in the town.
Powi claims he has the backing of the National Executive Council,
and a Supreme Court ruling, which allows him to be in office.
Hayabe, on the other hand, claims the support of governor Yawari
and his provincial executive council, and a National Court order
which directs him to continue to perform the role of
administrator.
The tussle over the administrator’s post began after the NEC and
Parliament, declared a State of Emergency in the province on Aug 1
last year, allegedly because of widespread corruption and
mismanagement.
NEC appointed Powi to take charge of the province as acting
Administrator. The SoE was extended on various occasions.
On March 1, 2007, after a court challenge launched by Governor
Yawari, the Supreme Court declared the SoE invalid.
The High Court found that circumstances that exist in the province
did not warrant the declaration of a SoE.
When handing down this ruling, Deputy Chief Justice Sir Salamo
Injia remarked that circumstances that exist in the province
could, and should, be addressed by existing law enforcement
agencies. The court said misappropriation and theft of public
funds, which were reported to be widespread, should be addressed
by police and the court of law through the normal process.
But the Government refused to accept this decision, and within
hours of it being handed down, the NEC met and appointed Powi
permanent administrator of the province for four years.
Governor Yawari responded by getting the court to issue
restraining orders against this appointment, and declared Hayabe
the Administrator.
Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that Powi should remain
administrator in the interim until all court cases relating to
this issue are addressed by a judge in Waigani.
But in a surprising twist, Justice Ambeng Kandakasi issued fresh
orders the next day in Mt Hagen stripping Powi of all financial
powers in the province.
That is where we are now, in a state of total confusion. What is
going to happen next?
No-one knows.
It is frustrating for the public servants in the province, not
knowing who to report to and take orders from.
It is frustrating for the rural mass, who have suffered from lack
of vital government services reaching them for a long period, and
will continue to suffer as long as this circus continues in Mendi
and Waigani.
It is not unreasonable to ask whose interest all these infighting
and confusion is serving.
Are there people behind Yawari and his PEC pulling the strings?
Are there people manipulating the NEC and Powi for their own gain?
If there are, these people need to be exposed because they are
most certainly working against the interest of the majority of
Southern Highlanders. This province is a rich province compared to
the other 18, but its people are poor, with social indicators in
decline. Where has all the richness from its oil and gas gone?
Last week, it was reported that cheques worth K15 million were
written and paid out to various groups and individuals. That is a
lot of money to be paid out with the general election so close.
We have every reason to be suspicious, and applaud the Ombudsman
Commission for intervening to put a stop to these payments until
it is properly explained what these payments are for, whether the
laws have been followed in making those payments, and whether the
people are recipients of the goods and services these payments are
being made for.
We say it is time for a decisive action the administration of
Southern Highlands because the people have suffered enough.
 
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