Senior official told to shape up

The National National

By HELEN TARAWA
DEPARTMENT of Commerce and Industry Secretary Andrew Liliura has been given six months to improve his performance.
Public Service Minister Elias Kapavore, responding to a query on a series of allegations against Liliura, told The National that the Department of Personnel Management was aware of the situation.
“My department is aware and secretary of commerce has been given six months to improve his performance pertaining to some of his key performance indicators countersigned by his minister,” Kapavore said.
“His performance will be assessed in June for a recommendation to be made to the National Executive Council.”
Minister for Commerce and Industry Wera Mori had directed an audit into the department’s finances following allegations of mismanagement and abuse of about K2.3 million.
According to sources in the department, funds allocated for major projects, including the Pacific Maritime Industrial Zone, Simbu Limestone project in Chuave and Sepik Special Economic Zone/Sepik Plains were allegedly used on non-project related work.
The sources claimed that from Oct 2017, funds were approved and payments were made to a private company.
It was alleged that on Oct 18, 2017, a payment of K5609.70 was made followed by another payment of K18,000 on Oct 20.
It was also alleged that some payments were authoritised prior to the closing of public accounts last year.
Information gathered from the Integrated Finance Management System indicated that 130 requisitions totalling K2.3 million were raised and paid.
A total of 71 requisitions for payment of goods and services were made. They included payments to a ticketing company while over K540,000 were processed and paid in cash.
An Investment Promotion Authority company extract indicated that payments were made and there was evidence of various payments made within November and December last year.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari would be directed to probe the allegations of mismanagement, misuse and abuse of funds at the department.
Chief Superintendent Mathew Damaru, the director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, confirmed that the matter was under investigation.