Final warning for return of Apec assets

By LUKE KAMA
ALL Apec assets should be returned immediately to the Government before Friday or they will be considered stolen and recovery enforced, the chairman of the Central Supplies and Tenders Board (CSTB) and Finance Secretary Dr Ken Ngangan says.
Dr Ngangan warned people who are still holding onto any asset purchased, procured or donated for use during the 2018 Apec Leaders’ Summit remained the property of the State and should be returned immediately. “Assets starting from mobile phones, cameras, lap tops and printers all the way to vehicles and others that are still in possession of anyone after Thursday this week is criminal in nature and police will apply full force of the law to recoup them,” he said.
“Those individuals or parties in possession of Apec-issued vehicles and other assets will be charged for stealing State properties.”
The 2018 Apec Coordination Authority has a sunset clause and ceased as an organisation at the end of last month. All assets owned by the authority are automatically forfeited by the State.
Ngangan said the Finance Department was the legitimate custodian of all Apec vehicles and assets.
“We ask for everyone to comply with these instructions so we can close off the Apec books cleanly and those groups or individuals in possession must return them immediately to the department,” he said.
“This is the final warning.”
He said assets, including the Maserati vehicles would be tendered.
According to Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Charles Abel, the total cost of hosting Apec was about K1 billion, which included K715 million direct allocation from the PNG Government in annual budgets from 2016 to 2018, and the balance of K275 million included the support and assistance received from member Apec countries.
Apec Minister Justin Tkatchenko said the disposal of Apec assets through public tender would ensure the Government recouped some of the money that were spent for hosting Apec meeting.