Toropo to review ‘gift’

The National Main Stories

THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) will not accept gifts with strings attached as it will not be a good precedent, Commander Maj-Gen Gilbert Toropo says.
He was responding to social media comments relating to the purchase of vehicles by ExxonMobil PNG Ltd for the military to use during operations.
Toropo told The National that 23 vehicles were purchased by the operator of the PNG LNG project “specifically for security operations”.
But, he said the vehicles would not be used until negotiations had been done.
“The company did it in good faith,” Maj-Gen Toropo said.
“They bought the vehicles for the PNGDF to use for security in the project area in Hela.
“Those vehicles are there until we work out the conditions (with ExxonMobil).
“Until I know what conditions these vehicles come with, as commander, I do not want a precedence of accepting.
“If vehicles come with restrictions, it defeats our purpose. We have a responsibility to the country.”
Maj-Gen Toropo explained that the PNGDF did not have funds to hire vehicles for soldiers.
He explained that for Hela, companies such as ExxonMobil funded and assisted soldiers during operations.
Toropo said he was concerned about people going on social media and commenting on government agencies without facts.

7 comments

  • Commander,
    Very good stand, PNGDF should not under any circumstance receive gifts from private companies.
    Government should fund the military sufficiently to meet their operations budget. Defense forces around the world are receiving Government attention and budget is priority, PNG should step up military administration.
    Police Commander should make bold decisions like that too. When companies donates gifts, technically they become owners of that institution. Police are worse with donated gifts.
    It defeats the purpose of the institution either it be military or police.

    • So PNGDF should not accept gifts from private companies but only accept gifts from other militaries like China? Because they’ve done that in the past. Does this mean they are owned by China now?

      • Chinese Military donation comes through their government, Building and maintenance bilateral relationships, this is a company, the gifts they offer, would come with a price, if the defense force is concentrated all year round as a condition of the offer, then who would take care of other vital assets and the sovereign borders.
        Don’t compare you consider

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