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Mendi public service offices locked
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
PUBLIC servants working in the Agiru centre in Mendi, including
administrator William Powi, were locked out of their offices yesterday.
Security forces in the Southern Highlands township locked the main
entrance into the seven-storey building after a big commotion in Mendi
town created by the supporters of former acting provincial administrator
Alphones Hayabe and Mr Powi.
The commotion nearly evolved into an all-out fight between the two
factions, and police reacted by locking the gate and stopping Mr Powi
from occupying the office of the provincial administrator.
A source said from Mendi yesterday, the security personnel didn’t allow
any public servants into the building.
The source said Mr Powi, who arrived from Port Moresby last Saturday to
take up his post, was also locked out.
When contacted by The National, Mr Powi confirmed the commotion in town,
adding he was supposed to hold a provincial election steering committee
meeting yesterday, but because the Agiru Centre was locked, the meeting
was postponed.
He said that he was operating out of his house.
He claimed that the action of Mr Hayabe’s supporters was defying the
Supreme Court order and has instructed his lawyers to file contempt of
court proceedings against Mr Hayabe and his supporters.
He said the highest court in the country had recognised him as the
interim provincial administrator and he should be allowed to perform his
duties unless and until the court decided otherwise, after a full
hearing of the case.
But Mr Hayabe insisted that despite the Supreme Court order, Mr Powi
must not occupy the office and wait till the case pending in the court,
was sorted out.
He said Mr Powi’s appointment was very questionable, and it was not good
for Mr Powi to rush in and occupy the office and create confusion in the
province.
Mr Hayabe denied being involved in the commotion, and appealed to
security forces not to take sides.
 
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