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Refusal to settle claims led to a ‘war of
words’
By PETER KORUGL
MOROBE administrator Manasupe Zurenuoc
knocked back K200,000 worth of claims originating from the office of
Governor Luther Wenge this month and this led to the confrontation
between the two men this week, according to information obtained by The
National.
“It is true; I have refused to authorise payments for various claims to
the tune of K200,000 because we have no money,” administrator Manasupe
Zurenuoc said yesterday, adding that funds allocated in the 2007
provincial budget for the governor’s office were exhausted.
According to the budget passed by the Tutumang (provincial assembly) in
December last year, the office of the governor was allocated K1,189,800
this year.
Of that money, K349,400 was to pay for salaries and wages of staff,
travel, fuel and rental, while K340,000 was allocated to other
operational expenses (item 135) and K500,400 to individuals and
non-governmental organisations (item 144).
According to budget documents, item 135 funds were for helicopter hire
(K300,000), publicity (K20,000) and official entertainment (K20,000),
while item 144 funds were for grants to individuals and non-governmental
organisations, at the discretion of the governor.
Records of transactions obtained from the provincial treasury, showed
that only three toea is left under item 135, while in item 144, only
K15,488.49 remains unspent.
Details of the transactions for item 135 showed that although the money
was allocated for hire of helicopter, publicity and official
entertainment, only a third of the funds were paid for hire of transport
but the rest were paid to individuals and small contractors for services
rendered to the provincial government.
The transaction details showed that for item 144, K484,911.51 was spent
and one such payment was made to the governor’s chief of staff, Dupe
Dahis’ wife.
The provincial treasury released the payment, cheque number 393064, on
April 13 this year.
“The payment was made to the wife to buy land at Bumbu compound to plant
rice.
“We learnt that the money was deposited into her account and when the
cheque was cleared, the money was withdrawn and used. No land was bought
and planted with rice,” Mr Zurenuoc said when asked to confirm the
transaction.
Mr Dahis, the former security guard of Governor Wenge was elevated to
the chief of staff position, when incumbent Mark Buiyo resigned to
contest the Huon Open seat this year.
Mr Dahis was alleged to have led the frustrated group to Mr Zurenuoc’s
office and tried to lock him out last Monday.
Mr Zurenuoc, however, pointed out that the governor had the control over
the usage of the funds under item 144.
 
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