Deputies stripped of powers

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 23rd May 2013

 SOME authorities have been removed from deputy secretaries and transferred to secretaries as part of precautionary measures  to address corruption and abuse of power in government departments, Finance Minister James Marape has announced.

Marape told a media conference in Parliament yesterday that the removal of powers were part of immediate steps implemented to address alleged corruption in the Finance Department.

He also announced the immediate engagement of an internal audit team to check the department’s books to reconcile errors.

The suspension of deputy secretary Jacob Wafai was also confirmed by Marape while the secretary Steven Gibson had voluntarily stepped aside to allow  investigation.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told Parliament on Tuesday that both officers were suspended.

However, Marape said the National Executive Council would endorse Gibson’s  decision to step aside and the appointment of Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc as the acting secretary.

He also announced that a team of investigators were appointed by the attorney-general and investigations would start soon.

Marape said among other measures taken was to have an office that could take stock of all payments which would then be reported to the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The government should use the investigation to stop loopholes in the department and the manner in which all payments are done and disbursed,” he said.

“However, it is scary that we had huge costs against the State. This year K90 million was budgeted to settle all such bills.”

Marape said some payments were made but was done without his notice although he had instructed a stop-payment to law firms until clearance was sought from the Attorney-General’s Office.

He said there were so many cases where law firms were engaged to assist but he would not preempt any information until investigations were completed.

Gibson said it was the saddest day of his 37 years of public service career to experience such corruption take place under his watch.

Meanwhile, Zurenuoc said preliminary findings indicated that the results of investigations into corruption in the Finance Department would take a similar line to the Finance Commission of Inquiry in March 2010 when information was barred from being tabled in Parliament through a court order.