The people have a right to know

 SHAME on the Parliamentary Accounts Committee for barring the media from covering yesterday’s hearing into the financial affairs of the National Parliament.

Parliament is the people’s house and they have every right to know what is happening with the way and manner in which this noble of all our institutions is being administered and managed.

The media is the people’s mouthpiece and we have a duty to print and broadcast information so that they are kept informed of developments in the government and other sectors of society. 

PAC chairman John Hickey’s decision to hold yesterday’s inquiry in camera is unprecedented.

His reason to ban the media from covering the inquiry into parliament’s accounts to avoid “misrepresentation of proceedings” is totally out of line.

We couldn’t agree more with woman activist Mathilda Pilakapio who said Parliament was the people’s house and they reserved the right to know what was being discussed through the media. “If the media is left out of the inquiry, then they have something to hide.”

Opposition deputy leader Sam Basil also condemned Hickey’s decision, saying “something is not right” while Transparency International PNG chairman Lawrence Stephen said being excluded from committee deliberations on parliament’s accounts was “distressing”.

According to our reporter Helen Tarawa, the PAC chairman advised media representatives to vacate the conference room before the inquiry into Parliament began at 10am.

Hickey said it was in the best interest of everyone that the committee did not compromise Parliament, that what was said in this inquiry was not misrepresented.

He said due consideration should be given to the three arms of government – the parliament, judiciary and the executive arm.

“Before we commence our inquiry into Parliament this morning, we have decided on the information that I’ve received very recently that it would be in the interest of parliament that we hold this inquiry today in camera.

“So could you please excuse yourselves? I’ll welcome you back here tomorrow for our next inquiry.”

Seemingly, Hickey did not make the decision on his own – someone must have advised him to ban the media from covering the inquiry “in the interest of parliament”. 

It is certainly not in the interest of the people who have a right to know what is going on in their house through reading newspapers, listening to radio and  watching television.

Something stinks in the people’s house and it can’t be a dead rat.

If the parliament’s accounts and financial affairs are in a mess then the people are entitled to know what is going on behind locked doors. Afterall, it’s their house and they elected 111 members to represent them.

It is imperative that Speaker of Parliament Theo Zurenuoc make a public explanation about Hickey’s decision to ban the media yesterday.

As the custodian of the people’s house, the Finschafen MP must ensure that Parliament is transparent and accountable as it is the most noble of all our public institutions.

Zurenuouc was at the centre of the recent controversy over the Parliament totem poles and carvings but he assured the people that he was making necessary changes to modernise their house.

While the winds of change are blowing through Parliament, something fishy seems to be going on with their accounts.

As fellow Morobean and Bulolo MP Basil said, “To stop the media from covering issues relating to Parliament, raises a lot of questions. Something is not right.”

Like Basil, we do not see any reason why the media, which had been allowed this week to cover the finances of Northern and Gulf provinces plus the contracts on the delivery medical drugs by the health department and central supply and tenders board, was disallowed from covering the inquiry into parliament.

We also agree that the three arms of government – judiciary, legislature and the executive – are important and their businesses and internal finances are confidential.

“However, public funds are being used and so Public Accounts Committee has no reason to give excuses,” Basil rightly said.

After all, K60 million was allocated for projects in Parliament and our people have every right to know what has happened to those public funds.