Minister locked out

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A CABINET minister has accused a department head of locking him out of his office, saying it is “unbecoming” and “frustrating”.
Minister for Immigration and Border Security Westly Nukundj, appointed in a Cabinet reshuffle last weekend by Prime Minister James Marape, told
The National that he was refused entry into his office by acting Chief Migration Officer Robert Kennedy.
But Kennedy yesterday denied locking Nukundj out, saying the issue arose from the delay in reactivating the access card to the office.
“(He) is the minister. How could I refuse him entry into his office?” Kennedy said.
“(He) has been accessing his office this week and his (personal assistant has been) manning the office in his absence.”
Nukundj had an access card to the office when he was minister before he defected to the Opposition with others on Nov 13.
He was reinstated by Marape when he returned.
Kennedy said the building management of the Central Government Office was working on reactivating Nukundj’s access card “which was deactivated when he vacated his office to join the Opposition”.
Nukundj said when he arrived on Monday “to continue the work I had left when the political camps started, I was denied entry”.
“It happened again on Tuesday and today (yesterday),” he said.
“I was told the acting chief migration officer had denied my entry by not providing me access keys to the main door.
“I have just returned now from a National Executive Council meeting and again tried to gain access to the office but the doors are still locked.
“This is unbecoming of a head of department to lock out a state minister. He could be reporting to another Minister.
“It is very frustrating.
“I sent him emails and messages but he has not responded.
“Something is wrong somewhere.”
Kennedy blamed disciplined officers for spreading rumours on the issue.
“Work is normal, we are winding down for Christmas,” he said.