Administrator warns officers: Shape up or face penalties

MOROBE administrator Bart Ipambonj has cautioned district administrators and officers in the province to shape up or face penalties.
This came about after reports from Tewae-Siassi that almost all their district officers were not in the district but were in Lae.
“I’m expecting district administrators to come and report to me on how their officers are working,” Ipambonj said.
“Those who are not in the district, report them to me.
“So far, I haven’t received any reports of officers not working or not stationed at their respective district headquarters.
“My warning to them is they must report every time to their district administrators who will report to me.
“Again, I can penalise but I cannot make them suffer or their families.
“I’ve issued instructions to public servants in the province to do what they are supposed to do.
“Those officers running around in Lae without serving their purpose back in the district, I have the powers to penalise them.
“They must go back to Sialum (headquarters).
“They have no excuse to be here (in Lae).”
Ipambonj said the headquarters of Tewae-Siassi was at Sialum-Siassi – being in the same district.
“With what is happening now, DDAs are managing and running the affairs of the administration on their own will and way and are all over the place and the people are lost,” he said.
“DA and the district staff must be there so they can serve the people of Sialum and Wasu and Siassi.
“When there is no officer on the ground, the people come to Lae to be served and this is a big challenge on us the administration.
“DDA must work well with us.
Tewae-Siassi administrator Sam Engam said the officers, including himself, were in Lae because of financial operations.
“All operations on finance in Lae are now closed, we are moving back today (yesterday) to the district headquarters in Sialum.”