Public to witness PAC inquiry

By REBECCA KUKU
THE public and Members of Parliament (MPs) will be invited to witness the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)’s inquiry into the awarding of two contracts worth more than K100 million by the Department of Health to Borneo Pacific Pharmaceutical Ltd (BPPL).
“The police fraud squad members, the Ombudsman and the public prosecutor’s office will also be invited to attend the inquiry as soon as a date is set by the committee,” PAC chairman Sir John Pundari told The National yesterday.
“The inquiry will also be allowed to be aired live by the local media,” he said.
“Attendance will be by appointment and invitation.”
The Health Department had announced on Aug 14 that BPPL won the contracts to supply medical kits and antibiotics nationwide this year.
It sparked a public outcry, led by the National Doctor’s Association (NDA) who demanded that the awards be suspended and that the health secretary Pascoe Kase be replaced.
Sir John said the PAC had issued “notice to produce”, pursuant to section 23 (1) (b) of the Permanent Parliamentary Act to the department, National Procurement Commission (NPC)and BPPL.
“The PAC had also issued notice to Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd, to present the committee with information on the aggravated income generated from the 500 + shipments it had made since the start of the PNG LNG project and the first shipment in May 2014. We have also issued notice to Bank South Pacific for information on the K80 million for public housing that was parked with the bank by Sir Michael Somare’s government and the K200 million that was recently parked there for the same reason by the (Peter) O’Neill government.
“The PAC also issued notices to the National Housing Corporation for information on the Duram Farm housing project, the Department of Education on the tuition fee free project and the PNG Ports Corporation on the new developments next to the IRC building in Downtown Port Moresby.”
Sir John also issued invitations to all stake holders, including government departments, State-owned enterprises, public institutions, provincial governments, private companies and any individual to assist the PAC in the inquiry.
“They are urged to provide any documents and publications, written statements, transaction reports and any form of information that can help in the inquiries,” he said.