Unesco head’s financial powers reinstated

 National Court judge Justice David Cannings yesterday ordered that all section 32 powers be reinstated with the Secretary-General of the Papua New Guinea National Commission for Unesco, Yori Yei.

These powers were suspended from the organisation by Finance Secretary Steven Gibson on March 25 in a letter sent to Yei and copied to Treasury Secretary Simon Tosali, Chief Secretary Manasupe Zure­nuoc and prime minister’s Chief of Staff Isaac Lupari.

But Yei went to court to reverse that decision and the suspension was lifted yesterday. 

Cannings ordered that the financial powers under Section 32 of the Public Finances (Management) Act be fully reinstated to Yei and this should not be further withdrawn until such a time when the court proceedings were completed.