Treasury to pay K7.3mil rental arrears for Customs Services

The National National

By HELEN TARAWA
The Department of Treasury is going to pay the K7.3 million owed to a company which has been renting its property to PNG Customs.
Pacific Palms Property closed the offices at 6-Mile and Gordon recently after the rental had not been paid for three years. Treasury Secretary Dairi Vele told The National that there was a dispute with the company over an “extra K1.3m” in the bill.
“That’s being (sorted out) now so the Customs officers should be back in their officers shortly,” Vele said.
Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey said the matter had been resolved and payments would be made.
The company wanted the total amount owed paid in full before it reopened the offices.
The outstanding amount included the recharge of other services provided by the property management.
PNG Customs Services Chief Commissioner Ray Paul said staff hoped to move into their offices this week. “They assured us that the building would be opened,” he said.
“We are currently operating in (other) offices because the main office in Gordon is still locked.”
Meanwhile, Paul said the new PNG Customs Services chief commissioner was expected to take up office in two weeks’ time.

3 comments

  • By this time Customs should have a office of their own. Are there any visionary people in there?

  • What the Government must do is buy and own buildings for all government public service providers so they don’t have to rent from other companies. Its and expensive exercise to rent office spaces for public servants.

  • Why can’t they build thier own office rather than renting. Customs generates a lot of money so I believe they could easily build one for themselves. The state should build a govt complex to accommodate all essential or key agencies including departments. We have departments scattered all over city. Has anyone thought seriously about accommodating state dept under one roof or compkex

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