Transparency International wants PM to dump Duma over Manumanu probe

National

THE PNG chapter of Transparency International has called on Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to tell the people the outcome of an investigation into the K46 million Manumanu land deal.
Lawrence Stephens said there had been no news after O’Neill and Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari announced that the National Executive Council had ordered the investigation.
He said that in addition to the allegation that Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) had overpaid for the land, the K2 million allocated for the investigation also came from public funds.
“Such acts continue to happen in the country and has greatly deprived Papua New Guineans the right to basic goods and services because they are not fully addressed,” he said in a statement.
Stephens said O’Neill had promised to trace the K46 million to the bank accounts but appeared to be ignoring his pledge.
“So far, the prime minister has fallen short of his own standards with no publication of the findings of the inquiry,” he said.
“He has also not made it clear to the public whether the inquiry was undertaken or not.”
Stephen said the appointment of Hagen MP William Duma as the Minister for Public Enterprise and State Investments also made a mockery of justice in PNG.
He called on O’Neill to revoke the appointment of Duma because he was one of the ministers along with several other department heads who were allegedly involved in the deal which also included the transfer of the naval base to Manumanu.
Duma and the department heads were sidelined in March.
Stephens said Duma’s appointment must be revoked.
“We as Papua New Guineans expect our leaders and more so our state ministers to be cleared of all alleged serious wrongdoings before they are entitled to make decisions which will affect us all.
“O’Neill should respect the legal process and revoke Duma’s appointment until the findings of the administrative inquiry are released and justice has run its course.”