By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says there was widespread failure by law enforcement and accountability agencies to investigate and prosecute senior public servants which they had referred in the past, PAC chairman Timothy Bonga said yesterday.
He said the PAC had made more than 150 referrals for further investigations and possible prosecution for serious offences of dishonesty to all agencies of State, which had the duty to carry out those investigations.
“Except for one, where an acknowledgment was received, for the rest the PAC has not received even an acknowledgement of those referrals – and this certainly meant no action has eventuated,” he said.
“This is a serious problem,” Mr Bonga said when conducting the first PAC hearing of the 8th Parliament yesterday.
“Any Government that professes to fight corrupt conduct yet tolerates failures by its law enforcement agencies to do so, is an invitation to more of such conduct,” he added.
Mr Bonga urged the Ombudsman Commission, Police, Solicitor-General, Personnel Management and other agencies to do their duties in acting on those referrals.
He also expressed concerns over reluctance on the part of certain officers to assist the PAC.
“We have seen many examples of deliberate and planned obstruction of this committee by the very officers of the public service who should welcome our inquiries and assist us. There seems to be a marked reluctance to assist or be held accountable.
“Competent and honest public servants entrusted with public funds have nothing to fear from this committee. We ask you all to assist and cooperate with us – not to fight us.”
Deputy chairman Malcolm Kela-Smith and eight PAC members were present during the meeting at the National Parliament in Port Moresby.
PAC will conduct inquiry into the Finance Department’s Public Accounts Division today.
Officers from the Southern Highlands provincial government, National Museum and Art Gallery and Central City Development with Health, Education and Finance Departments also appeared briefly before the committee to hear their respective appearance dates.