Church money missing

 By MALUM NALU

 MORE than K22 million allocated to a committee to establish a Lutheran Church university in Lae remains unaccounted for – after 10 years, it has been revealed.

The Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea establishment committee was chaired by then private lawyer Rimbink Pato, the current Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister. 

It was supported by former Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, his brother and former Evangelical Lutheran Church head bishop Giegere Wenge, and Enga-based Gutnius Lutheran Church head bishop David Piso.

In response, Pato told The National yesterday that he had “nothing to hide” and would make a detailed response to all the allegations.

The church synod in Finschhafen, Morobe, last month was told that more than K20 million of Government funds had been allocated to the university establishment committee with no reports of how the money had been spent.

The university was to have been located at the church-owned Martin Luther Seminary and Balob Teachers College in Lae.

A confidential report obtained by The National states: “We ask this 30th Synod to recognise that more than K20 million in movement money has gone into this LUPNG establishment committee. The Government wants to see a report of how this money was spent. But the ELC-PNG and its church council have also not received any reports since the beginning of this LUPNG Establishment Committee.

“Just recently, a new report came out blaming ELC-PNG for receiving Government money (for the university) so ELC-PNG must receive acquittals. This report is not right.”

An online search of the LUPNG website confirmed that it received large amounts of Government funding. It included:

• July 2005: Morobe provincial government commenced contribution of funding for the work towards the process of establishing the university (no amount disclosed); 
• October 5, 2007:  K3 million was approved by the National Government Supplementary Budget for the university; 
• March 28, 2008: the Office of Higher Education released K3 million to the university for securing advanced degrees for lecturers at Balob Teachers College and Martin Luther Seminary. Additionally, funds (undisclosed) were allocated for a consultancy, master planning, curriculum writing, and further work as outlined by the terms of reference as approved in February that same year; 
• July 21, 2009: Morobe Governor Luther Wenge received the first grant of K10 million  from the Department of National Planning and Monitoring to begin building and infrastructure rehabilitation for the university; 
• September 8, 2011:  Simon Sanangke, the CEO of the National Gaming Control Board, delivered K200,000 for sports facility renovations at the proposed university site at Martin Luther Seminary; and 
• September 29, 2011:  Prime Minister Peter O’Neill delivered a K2 million cheque to Bishop Giegere Wenge for the development of the Lutheran University during the National Pastors Conference in Port Moresby.