Manwau requests leaders to help him fight corruption

By GABRIEL FITO
WEWAK MP Dr Moses Manwau appealed to the people of Wewak to stand with him in weeding out corruption in the district and local level government administrations so that public funds are not misused in anyway.
Manwau, who is also the deputy chairman for Public Accounts Committee, said there were instances of misuses by presidents and the district administration before he took office as MP last year and measures should now be taken to prevent further misuse.
The MP was reacting to a call from the Wewak district administrator Martin Maingu and the LLG presidents for him to explain the payment of K450,000 to nine Port Moresby-based companies late last year according to resolutions reached during a joint district planning and budget priority committee (JDP&BPC) meeting held at the Sepik Centre of Hope last October.
Manwau said he was not aware of such payments and if there were allegations, the presidents should produce the documents because the district’s funds were only made available to him last Nov 7.
He said any allegation of illegal transaction before that date would be baseless because there was no money in the district treasury.
Manwau also questioned how the presidents were distributing water tanks and K10,000 each to various schools during that period which, he said, could amount to corruption.
He said a recent audit report revealed that not much money was accounted for before he took office as Wewak MP and he had arranged for another audit for the district which should convene when he returns from Port Moresby at the weekend.
The presidents claimed that the monies were paid to the MP’s priority projects in Port Moresby and as members of the JDP&BPC they had not been informed of the benefits these projects would bring to the people of Wewak district.
The National also understands that Maingu had written an official letter of complaint to the Ombudsman Commission last week calling for an investigation into the companies which he said had received K50,000 each. 
The nine companies were Secure On Ltd, JK Project Documentation, Ela Motors Port Moresby, Next International, Green Ltd Solar Lights, Regency Ltd Christmas Light, Auto Zeal Pty Ltd, Global Internet and Blue Ocean Ltd.
Maingu brought the issue to light after the member Manwau threatened to remove him from office last Wednesday when he refused to sign a claim of K40,000 that did not have a JDP&BPC resolution.
The K40,000 was for a commitment made by Manwau to support East Sepik students studying  at various universities throughout the country.