Powi welcomes probe of SHP accounts

By JEFFREY ELAPA
ACTING Southern Highlands administrator William Powi has welcomed Governor Anderson Agiru’s investigations into the spending of provincial funds.
Agiru had publicly stated instituting an investigation into “alleged maladministration and unauthorised spending of public funds” in the province.
Powi, who maintained that he was the legitimate provincial administrator, said he welcomed the investigation.
He said he alone decides on all payments relating to the Southern Highlands provincial government and he has documents and records to substantiate the expenditures.
“These included directions on who should be paid and by how much,” Powi said.
Powi said on record, “the governor would collect all revenues earmarked for the province from Waigani, deposits them at random, make a list of who should be paid and by how much”.
“The governor then uses his political muscle to make me a rubber-stamping officer,” Powi alleged.
He further alleged that such irregular practices had led to instability and in-fighting between the people of Nipa and Kutubu over the appointment of an acting administrator.
He also questioned the logic behind an alleged provincial executive council meeting held at night last weekend.
“A person who preaches to be a champion of the law and legal process should respect the rule of law and the rights of fellow Papua New Guineans who are equally educated as himself and are leaders in their communities.
“I appeal to the national government to quickly look into and deal with the mess created in Southern Highlands,” Powi said.