Transparency International calls for full report on cars

TRANSPARENCY International PNG (TIPNG) is calling for the Government and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Authority to publicly disclose the total cost involved in the purchase of the luxury vehicles and to demonstrate their compliance with public procurement processes.
TIPNG made the call following criticisms on the purchase of 40 Italian-made Maserati sports cars which were delivered last week and confirmation that three Bentley vehicles were on the way to Papua New Guinea.
“The only way to stop allegations of corruption is to be honest and transparent in procurement processes,” TIPNG board said in a statement.
“We have heard only vehement denials of corruption by the Government and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Authority, but they have not been forthcoming with procurement documents, such as an invitation for bids or receipts of purchase, let alone a list of private sector entities willing to purchase the vehicles.”
The statement said the Government recently passed the National Procurement Act as part of its Alotau Two Accord commitments along with a spate of recent public finance reform legislation, which was intended to strengthen public trust in Procurement.
“However it is difficult to see how the general public can have confidence in a system which, in the absence of transparency, is so readily made to support what are seen to be impulsive and extravagant purchases by State entities in the face of declining service delivery, a depressed economy and severe hardships being faced by the ordinary Papua New Guinean.”