Ex-minister, staff leave behind an empty office

By JEFFREY ELAPA
EMPLOYEES of sacked Minister for Petroleum and Energy William Duma have been accused of removing state-owned equipment from the office he was occupying.
First secretary to the newly-appointed Minister Francis Potape, Raka Ramu Peter said that the office was almost empty with everything taken “leaving only tables and chairs”.
He said the state-issued office equipment such as computers, fax machines, printers, internet access points and connect, had been removed.
Duma, who is leader of the United Resource Party (URP), was sacked by Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal for incompetency early last month.
It may have resulted in Duma earlier sacking Potape and URP founder and Southern Highlands Governor An­derson Agiru from the party.
Ramu Peter said that his ministry was waiting for the official ministerial support vehicle, registration number ZGA 226 (BT 60)  to be returned by the former first secretary.
He said the action taken by his predecessors “clearly indicated the way the department and industry was run” and that their action “portrays who they were and what they have been doing in the very important industry”.
He said almost three weeks had passed but the vehicle, office keys and equipment had not been returned despite several attempts by officers from the department to get the former staff to return them.
He said it  was becoming a common practice in the country and strict mea­sures should be taken to address it.
He questioned how a supposedly senior statesman like Duma could allow such a thing to happen.
“This is serious and malicious in nature and I call on Duma to advise his former ministerial staff to return the car and the stolen property to the office,” he said.
Several attempts to contact Duma yesterday were unsuccessful.
Ramu Peter said he could be contacted on 7602091.