Motukea wharf issue deferred indefinitely

THE hearings for the commission of inquiry (COI) into the sale and purchase of the Motukea wharf in Port Moresby have been deferred until further notice.
COI chairman and commissioner Sike Julian Toulik said the hearings had to be adjourned indefinitely until the Government formally extended the period of the COI.
Toulik said the deadline for the COI lapsed on Thursday and the COI was still waiting for the extension to be granted.
Toulik said he met with Prime Minister James Marape on Tuesday concerning its request for extension.
“We received a very warm welcome from the Prime Minister (James Marape) and I pointed out to him that we need to get this instrument (for extension of the COI) to be endorsed by him so we can continue with the work of the COI,” Toulik said.
“The prime minister has given a positive undertaking.”
He said he would wait for the process to take place and for the necessary documents to be signed and gazetted.
“It is only procedural and it does not affect the work that we (COI) have done so far.
“He (Marape) was very impressed of the performance that we have taken so far.
“The undertaking has been done already by the prime minister and until the requirements of the signing of the instruments are done, we will continue to perform our duty. I am positive and glad that the backing of the government is positive,” Toulik said.
He then directed that all matters, including summons issued to witnesses, be adjourned to a later date.
The National reported earlier that in 2019, the Marape-led Government froze the contract with Curtain Brothers, pending a proper investigation into the sale and purchase of Motukea.