Assets to be disposed off transparently: Marape

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By HELEN TARAWA
FINANCE Minister James Marape, pictured, says State assets used during the Apec Leaders’ Summit will be disposed of in a transparent manner.
He led a Government team last Friday, including Apec Minister Justin Tkatchenko, Apec Coordination Authority chief executive Christopher Hawkins and Finance Secretary Ken Ngangan, to take journalists on a tour of where the vehicles were parked.
There were 40 Maserati and two Bentley cars parked at the wharf.
“We have received a lot of unfair criticisms from the media and we know you are doing your job,” he said.
“I had no pre-insight as to how much was in store. For me it was just part of my job as finance minister to ensure that the discussions in public space are properly vetted and we hold each other accountable.”
He said all the Maserati and Bentley cars would be properly tendered under the Public Finance Management Act.
“Everything will be done transparently and precisely. As I speak today, the call for the tender of the two most talked about cars, Maserati and Bentley, is out,” Marape said. He said Government House was in possession of one Bentley which would be purchased by the State.
Vehicles donated by donors and partners such as China, Japan, India and Australia would not be sold as per their request.
“We will make a policy through Cabinet that they be distributed to our education and health institutions,” he said.