COI directs ex-official to provide info

By HELEN TARAWA
THE Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) loan deal has directed former Government House secretary Sir Tipo Vuatha to provide any information that may assist in the proceedings.
Sir Tipo, who appeared briefly before the inquiry yesterday, was directed to confer with the current secretary Bill Toraso, regarding any loan agreements signed by the governor-general at the time, Sir Paulias Matane, in 2009, in respect to the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) loan and any loan agreement signed by Sir Michael Ogio in 2014, in respect to the UBS loan.
COI chairman Sir Salamo Injia told the inquiry that he (Sir Tipo) would be given some time to think through and recall what happened in 2009 and 2014, regarding the two loans.
He asked Sir Tipo to talk to the Government House staff and return to the COI to give a firm view of what the situation was.
Sir Tipo retired from Government House in 2016.
He told the inquiry that he could not recall any documents regarding the deals being signed by the governor-general at the time.
The matter was adjourned to next Monday for further directions.