Minister denies recruiting consultant

THE Minister for Forest Douglas Tomuriesa has denied recruiting a consultant who is paid K3000 daily.
“The media must check and get the facts right for accurate information,” he said, adding such sensational and irrelevant information serve only to destroy the integrity and reputation of people and organisations.
He was responding to a local weekly paper report that claimed the minister was involved in recruiting a consultant who was paid K3000 a day.
“What company or government organisation in PNG can afford to pay a person K3000 daily when there are financial management procedures in place to follow and guide all government agencies.
“The report by Simon Eroro and published by the Sunday Bulletin claiming that he employed James Kiale as a consultant is inaccurate. He only makes a submission to the PNG Forest Authority board led by the managing director.
“I also do not dictate how much a person is paid. Kiale was employed as a consultant by the board to assist in many of the reviews in the current laws and policies,” he added.
He said Kiale was appointed based on his credentials, and he is a Papua New Guinean with a Masters in economics and relevant work experience in economic projects in the country.