K54 million report compiled for administrative purposes

The National National

By PISAI GUMAR
MOROBE treasurer Andrew Namuesh says the K54 million debt servicing report he compiled was for administrative purposes to verify genuine service providers.
Namuesh confirmed that he had sanctioned three debt servicing investigations due to continuous issues regarding outstanding claims by service providers.
Namuesh then compiled the report dated Jan 16, 2020, based on an interview and vetting process conducted in late December after interviewing 350 service providers dating back to 2014 over unpaid claims totalling K54,687,445.12.
The debts distribution per sector in millions included: Vehicle hire (K28,338,264.30), others (K12,435,494.85), buildings (K8,531,583.18) and roads (K5,103,156.24).
Namuesh told The National that the document of the debt servicing, somehow, slipped into the hands of service providers currently urging provincial administrator Bart Ipambonj to pay them.
“The document currently with service providers is unofficial without my signature,” Namuesh said.
Ipambonj could not be reached for comment.
Namuesh said Finance Department secretary Dr Ken Ngangan, on April 7, issued a circular to all provincial and district financial managers to put a “stop” to all other businesses except cheque-printing for the state of emergency only.
“As per the directive, I instructed Governor Ginson Saonu, Ipambonj, deputy administrators, the Tutumang clerk, programme advisers, districts and LLGs that no payments and cheque related to all other businesses will be entertained unless it is SOE related,” Namuesh said.
The direction was in line with instruction issued by the Department of Personnel Management secretary Saies Sansan and SOE controller David Manning on April 6.
Service providers spokesman Paul Kasi raised concern over their unpaid dues.
Kasi said most contractors were registered with Investment Promotion Authority and had provided various services since 2014.
“Most of our employees, including families, are currently suffering due to state of emergency and the two-month extension will badly affect them,” he said.