Cabinet waiting for submission

PRIME Minister James Marape, pictured, says Cabinet is waiting for a submission on the terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry into the Union Switzerland Bank (UBS) loan before it can proceed.
It is being prepared by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Davis Steven and will contain the terms of reference and the timeframe.
“The enquiry will be set up at the earliest,” Marape said.

“I have asked the deputy prime minister in his capacity as the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General to bring to cabinet a paper that will entail when the COI will start and end and the boundaries of the terms of reference. Cabinet is of the view, in the absence of Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), that this enquiry must eventually be the precursor to an
ICAC.
“I will leave it to the wisdom of Minister Steven to put in credible Papua New Guineans who have proven track records of fighting against corruption and credible senior members of the bench whether in our judiciary or outside to chair the composition of the inquiry.
“I am not fearful of this inquiry. If I’m found to have conducted improperly when the inquiry has been completed, I will be the first one to resign from this office.
“It is unfair for leaders who hold leadership positions to be paying high price.”
Marape said the UBS report furnished by the Ombudsman Commission was more geared towards the capability of leadership breaches.
“The questions of corruption doesn’t only entail leadership breaches but goes beyond,” he said.
“And in the name of giving sincere honest response to the public who demand accurate information as to what has taken place, I feel that the UBS COI must be established to ascertain whether there are other corruptions involved in the saga.”