Court: Anton retains post

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
MARTHA Anton is to remain provincial treasurer for Chimbu.
This follows a court order nullifying her suspension by the acting Finance secretary Steven Gibson last year.
Kundiawa National Court issued an order on April 20 declaring that Gibson’s decision to suspend Anton as provincial treasurer last Nov 23 was contrary to the Public Service General Orders 9 (19).
The court also declared a decision by Gibson to appoint Sandy Wamil as acting provincial treasurer.
The court ordered that Anton was the legitimate provincial treasurer of Chimbu.
It also ordered that the state, its agents, servants and employees be restrained from taking any other or further
disciplinary action against Anton.
The state has been ordered to pay costs.
Anton said she was appointed on merit after beating many other applicants for a post normally occupied by men.
She said it was not by mistake that she was appointed and she did not do anything wrong to be suspended.
“I am happy that, at last,
justice has prevailed and restored me to the post,” she said.
“I am back in office to carry on with normal duties as a provincial treasurer.”
Anton said money given
to the province would be pro­perly used for the intended purposes.
“There is no free money
at the provincial treasury office.
“People should not to come in with their false claims because my office will not entertain them and they would feel ashamed of themselves.”