Accused of breaches

FORMER chief migration officer Solomon Kantha will be investigated for alleged breach of the Public Finance Management Act to award a security contract to the immigration detention facilities in Manus, acting chief migration officer Robert Kennedy pictured, claimed yesterday.
“Kantha has also breached the National Procurement Act in awarding a K12 million contract to the Tasion Group to provide security at the East Lorengau transit centre,” he said.
“After all there is already a contract with the Peren Investment to provide security to the immigration detention facilities in Manus.
“He will also be questioned for branding Immigrations and Border Security Minister Westley Nukundj a lair.”
Kennedy told a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday that after a joint venture with Paladin (previous security contractor in Manus), the opportunity now is for Peren Investment to take full control.
“Tasion Group is not a landowner of Lorengau town or landowner company where the asylum seekers’ processing centre now stands in Lorengau.
“How did Tasion Group come into the picture? This is something former CMO Mr Kantha himself was instrumental in the arrangement and continues to mislead the Government and the nation,” Kennedy said.
He said the Waigani National Court last Thursday dismissed a motion filed by Tasion Group against the State alleging breach of contract as there was no contractual obligation in force and the case was thrown out.
“But what is more incriminating in that case is that Kantha signed and committed the country to a K9 million contract for six months and K3 million as incentive after the completion of the contract.”