Taskforce allowances Baki’s job: Minister

The responsibility of paying allowances for the Joint Security Task Force (JSTF) which worked during the Apec leaders’ summit is the job of commander and Police Commissioner Gari Baki, Apec Minister Justin Tkatchenko says.
Tkatchenko said Baki had been given funding last year and this year to pay all allowances to those who provided security during Apec.
He said the Apec Authority, under chief executive officer Chris Hawkins and himself, “facilitated to ensure that the joint security task force got their funding for the operations and their allowances”.
”For me, we’ve done our part,” Tkatchenko said.
“Finance has done its part. If there are any outstanding allowances, the army or the police force have a chain of command.”
Baki said the JSTF had paid members their allowances. He said the only allowances outstanding were those committed by leaders following the destruction of Parliament last November.
“I’m aware of a Cabinet decision that is confirming that the outstanding allowances would be made to the forces. “It’s got nothing to do with me as commander of JSTF and it’s got nothing to do with me managing the funds. About 100 soldiers gathered outside Sir Manasupe Haus at Waigani in Port Moresby on Monday to seek assurance from Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari on the payment of K300 per day outstanding allowances for task force members.