UPNG staff confused over appointment of council

By Rebecca Kuku
THERE is some confusion at the University of Papua New Guinea over its council despite Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Pila Niningi announcing the appointments last week.
National Academic Staff Association and UPNG staff spokesperson Linus Digim’Rina said they were not sure if the appointments were made and endorsed by the National Executive Council.
“The decisions of the appointment have not yet been gazetted by the national government gazette office so we are all confused,” Digim’Rina said.
“We have not received any formal letters to show that the appointments were made. We just read it in The National newspaper that the council, chancellor and vice-chancellor were appointed.”
Digim’Rina said they were meeting to discuss the appointments and would issue a statement once they were formally notified of the appointments or when the appointments were gazetted.
Niningi announced the appointments of Robert Igara as the new chancellor, Prof Frank Griffin as the vice-chancellor. He said that the interim council members would remain the same: Dr John Kuwimb, Theresa Bob, Rosa Teria, Sinton Spence, Prof Terry Evans, Dr Vernon Crew, Dr Paul Gadek, Andy Kenamo, Gabriel Pepeson and Peter Vagi.