Madang gets new administrator

By JIMMY KALEBE
NEWLY National Executive Council (NEC)-appointed Madang administrator Frank Tonges Lau says politicians must not interfere in the affairs of the provincial administration.
“(General Election 2022) candidates, former politicians and retired public servants have been interfering and that is not healthy for the province,” he said.
“If you are one of those who are interfering, you must be mindful that this is not a political venue for you to score points against your rivals.”
Lau said as mature people, they must respect the decision made by the NEC.
“To those public servants who are engaging with politics or politicians and refused to comply with the directives, you will be dealt with accordingly under the Public Service Management Act Section 55,” he warned.
Lau said the ongoing tussle for the position of the provincial administrator and other in-house issues had resulted in public servants in sub-districts in the province to be absent from work.
“There is no government presence in many rural districts and sub-districts in Madang,” he said.
“Many public servants have fled and are just in Madang town getting paid for doing nothing.”
Meanwhile, the Personal Management Department in Waigani also confirmed Lau’s appointment.
Department secretary Taies Sansan said: “I must make it clear that the department’s mandate is only to facilitate the appointment process and the appointment authority is the NEC, based on recommendations from the Provincial Executive Council,” she said.
Sansan said public servants must remain neutral as executive appointments were the prerogative of the NEC.