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Morauta: Amet is Somare’s puppet
THE removal of acting Public Prosecutor Jim Wala Tamate has the fingerprints of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare all over it, opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta said yesterday.
“(Attorney-General and Justice Minister) Sir Arnold Amet’s explanation that the decision to sack Tamate was made by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, based on the incompetence of Tamate, is an insult to the intelligence of Papua New Guineans.
“That explanation is designed to camouflage the real reason from the public,” Sir Mekere said in a statement.
He said the public perception was that Tamate was sacked because he had the guts to refer Sir Michael to the chief justice with a request to establish a leadership tribunal.
“That is the reason for his sacking, pure and simple,” the opposition leader said.
He said many people were surprised by a series of advice that the attorney-general had given to the government so far.
“First, it was apparently Sir Arnold who advised the prime minister on the so-called re-election of Sir Paulias Matane as governor-general without following the process set out under the constitution.
“How could the prime minister forget this when he participated in the election of every single governor-general since independence?
“When that decision was challenged in the Supreme Court by an aggrieved party, it was Sir Arnold, again, who advised the prime minister and government that the court had no power to direct parliament to be recalled or to interfere with the business of parliament.
“The attorney-general, for some reason, forgot to advise the prime minister that the court was interpreting the law.”
Sir Mekere said the court was empowered by the constitution to carry out that role.
“The attorney-general appeared to have conveniently forgotten this basic fact.”
Sir Mekere said many people were beginning to see the attorney-general as a puppet of the prime minister.
“He is being pushed and pulled into positions and postures predetermined by the prime minister.”
As for Tamate, Sir Mekere said the public should salute Tamate for his courageous decision to refer Sir Michael to answer alleged misconduct charges.
People’s hero, MP Sam Basil, threatened again
MP Sam Basil has received a number of abusive and threatening emails from an anonymous yahoo address created with the name Borit Yaken.
The emails (see below) threaten that Mr Basil’s wife will be raped and his children strangled if Mr Basil continues to speak out.
Mr Basil has been an outspoken critic of the government on corruption and governance issues and has assisted his people to take legal action against the owners of the Hidden Valley mine over the pollution of the Watut river.
Mr Basil is widely admired by ordinary people in PNG for his refusal to stay silent on issues affecting the people and for his courage in speaking out – something that most MPs seem afraid or otherwise unable to do.
In July last year the Prime Minister, Michael Somare, famously threatened to kill Mr Basil over his criticism of the governments tactics of continually adjourning Parliament to avoid a vote of no confidence.
Some of the emails received by Mr Basil
Wed, 16 February, 2011 11:45:57 AM
RE: Playing with fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
| From: | Borit Yaken <borityaken@ymail.com>
Add to Contacts |
|
| To: | Sam Basil | |
YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE MR BASIL………….
WE WILL RAPE YOUR TAITI WIFE AND STRANGLE YOUR CHILDREN IF YOU KEEP ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ………………..
DONT THINK THEY ARE SAFE AT 14 MILE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thu, 17 February, 2011 11:30:59 AM
| From: | Borit Yaken <borityaken@ymail.com>
Add to Contacts |
|
| To: | Sam Basil | |
YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE MR BASIL………….
WE WILL RAPE YOUR TAITI WIFE AND STRANGLE YOUR CHILDREN IF YOU KEEP ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ………………..
DONT THINK THEY ARE SAFE AT 14 MILE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Arnold Amet – a spineless Somare puppet
By Maria Winge
The government led by Somare has become stupid, irresponsible and very predictable. In its current state the government is uncreative and complacent. Clever politics is, sadly, a thing of the past.
Because of the illusion of “absolute power,” Somare and his minions – poor Arnold included – feel no need to veil their corrupt maneuvering to stifle debate and interfere with the justice system.
As “intelligent” as he is, the once esteemed and revered former Chief Justice is now nothing more than a mere pawn on Michael Somare’s chess table.
In December last year, the Prime minister, tried desperately to snuff out efforts to by the acting public prosecutor, Jim Wala Tamate, to establish a leadership tribunal to look into the PM’s failure to submit financial statements. For many it was like a breath of fresh air. Finally, we thought, someone in Papua New Guinea’s sluggish and timid bureaucracy, had the guts to stand up and take on Somare. But like a chess game with willing pawns, Arnold Amet, willingly accepted his new post as Attorney General while Don Polye let himself be mocked and unceremoniously flicked by Somare from the post of deputy Prime Minister.
In perhaps the most uncreative, unintelligent move in PNG politics, Somare shows himself to be the dictator that he is by using Arnold Amet to remove the very public servant who wanted to bring him to Justice.
I quote what Sam Basil said: “… Mr. Tamate was removed for non-performance but [Arnold] failed to outline what sort of lack of performance. Did he mismanage the office? If so, what are the examples? Did he not do his constitutional duty? What are some examples?”
“Can the former Chief Justice as a learned person justify his actions because you cannot afford to leave the people of PNG guessing?”
And this is the best part: “Otherwise, Sir Arnold is just another puppet, executing the PM and his family’s will.”
Unless “Sir” Arnie can come up with a satisfying explanation as to why Jim Wala Tamate was removed from office, Papua New Guinea, has made up its mind that Arnold Amet, Papua New Guinea’s Attorney General, is nothing up a spineless Somare puppet.
We want an explanation, Arnold Amet! And don’t try to hide behind your rational explanations of law and your dazzlingly worded sentences. We’ve heard that all before and we’re not taking that crap anymore.
Come on Arnie, don’t you have the balls to stand up to the old man?
Minister yet to see Deloitte reports
From The National
ENVIRONMENT and Conservation Minister Benny Allan has forgiven politicians who have smeared his name over financial mismanagement claims levelled against the department in two reports by international consultancy firm Deloittes.
“However, I will forgive him and tell Papua New Guinea that I have not sighted the Deloittes reports and, when I do, I will decide my next course of action,” Allan, who is Unggai-Bena MP, said last night from Goroka
The minister had been away from Port Moresby soon after parliament met this year to elect Michael Ogio as the ninth governor-general of PNG.
He said trust and financial accounts were administrative matters that were dealt with at the departmental level.
“I do not give directions on how the department spends the funds allocated by the national government and donor agencies. That is something left with the secretary and department,” Allan said.
“I cannot be compared with the secretary; ministers do not sign cheques as they are administrative matters.
“I do not compromise with any of my departmental staff or the developers, and I want the Bulolo MP to know that.
“My record speaks for itself, both, at the district and department levels,” he added.
“I have forgiven Basil and will; assure the people of PNG that I will decide on what to do after I have seen the reports by Deloittes.”
The reports from the consultancy firm painted a highly critical picture of waste, mismanagement and lack of financial accountability within the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Another DEC trust account in the spotlight
The Environment Protection Trust Account which is administered by the Department of Environment and Conservation has been put in the spotlight days after revelations about the misuse of funds in the Biodiversity Trust Fund.
A leaked BSP bank printout shows transactions on the Environment Protection account during August and September 2010.
Over the two month period over K2.5 million was distributed from the Trust Account, including an overseas telegraphic transfer in the sum of K1,373,455.
Other sizeable withdrawals from the account include three telegraphic transfers of K191,000, K48,000 and K33,000 and a cheque payment of K411,947.
There were also six cash withdrawals, totaling K17,982 and K41,000 was paid out in cheques of K3,000, K6,000, K1,000, K7,000k, K2,000, K2,000, K4,000, K4,000, K2,500, K7,000, K1,500 and K1,000.
Strangely the registered address shown on the bank print out is NOT the postal address for DEC. DEC’s postal address is PO Box 6601, Boroko – not PO Box 1212 Waigani.
Last week a report from international consultancy firm Deloitte was revealed which says the Department of Environment and Conservation has seriously misued donor funds deposited to its Biodiversity Trust Fund and compliance with procedures is ‘at a very low level’.
Are Iamo’s days numbered at DEC?
Wari Iamo, the embattled Secretary of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), is not expecting to survive too much longer in his role according to DEC insiders.
These sources claim the Secretary has directed that all outstanding Environmental permits be brought to his desk to be signed off, even though his shocked staff say the proposals haven’t been examined yet.
If this is indeed the case then it raises the question of who’s calling the shots? Various investors paying rewards for prompt approvals? Or higher people in government directing Iamo to approve their favoured projects promptly?
MP Basil reject AG comments on PM
The statement by the Attorney General that the public should not demand swift decision making from the Chief Justice as to the appointment of a leadership tribunal is as offensive as it is clearly wrong.
The Chief Justice, like the Attorney General, are public servants and should be answerable and accountable to the people of Papua New Guinea at all times.
Serious allegations have been made against the most senior public servant in Papua New Guinea, the Prime Minister. These allegations remain unanswered 3 years later. This is bringing the integrity of the office of Prime Minister into question and it is in the interests of the country as a whole that these allegations are resolved quickly, one way or another.
Justice delayed is justice denied.
The Public Prosecutor was satisfied that the Prime Minister was guilty of misconduct in office, which resulted in his referral of the matter to the Chief Justice for the appointment of a Leadership Tribunal pursuant to Section 27(2) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.
When a Tribunal is to be appointed to inquire in the case of alleged misconduct in office by the Prime Minister – a special provision applies as to the make-up of the Tribunal – which is Section 27(7)(d) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership, which provides that the Chief Justice must appoint a Tribunal consisting of a Chairman and two other members, all of whom must be:-
(i) Judges or former Judges of the National Court; or
(ii) Former Judges of the pre-Independence Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea; or
(iii) Judges or former Judges of an equivalent court of a country that has a legal system similar to that of Papua New Guinea;
The Chief Justice does not have a discretion as to whether or not he should appoint a Tribunal under the Organic Law, once the matter is referred to him by the Public Prosecutor, he MUST appoint a Tribunal.
This performance of this duty cannot be delayed. It is not a difficult or time consuming task as there is only a limited pool of persons from which the Chief Justice may appoint the Tribunal.
It is in the interests of justice that this task is performed as quickly as possible so that these allegations may be resolved so that the integrity of the office of Prime Minister is not further destroyed.
It is therefore entirely appropriate that the people demand that the Tribunal be appointed within a reasonable time and that means as soon as possible in these circumstances. For the Attorney General to suggest that the people have no rights to demand quick action, it is not only in breach of the basic principles of democracy but he is clearly playing politics and trying to delay the determination of the allegations of misconduct against the Prime Minister, which all of PNG has been waiting for.
We should also remind ourselves that the Attorney General & the Governor of Madang Sir Arnold Amet is also a member of the National Alliance Party from which the Prime Minister is a leader of and delivering such statements can only bring the integrity of his office into question.
There should be a law in the future to make the office of the Attorney General be occupied by public servants only and not politicians as such. It would be also proper for future Chief Justices not to enter politics because the respect they carry from this high profile office can be easily tainted when they start playing petty politics
SAM BASIL MP
BULOLO OPEN ELECTORATE
In response to –
Timber thief
Iamo tries to defend himself against Deloitte reports
By JAYSON GIMA WURI and FREDDY MOU
THE Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) secretary Dr Wari Iamo has condemned an email circulation that was leaked out this week regarding the second report from Deloitte, an international consultancy firm.
The report alleged that DEC had misused donor funds deposited into its biodiversity trust fund and compliance with procedures was “at a very low level”.
The report further claimed that 73% of the spending from the trust fund in 2008, the year of its audit, was for “unauthorised purposes”.
It said K223,000 from the biodiversity trust fund, used for advances to DEC staff in 2007 and 2008, was completely unaccounted for (including K9,000 for overseas travel).
The report also stated that no bank reconciliations for the Biodiversity Trust Fund had been done for the previous seven months and all the reconciliations for the previous year, used incorrect opening balances.
“There were no monthly reports made by DEC to the Department of Finance on any DEC trust accounts, despite it being a statutory requirement,” stated the report circulating through emails.
However, Iamo said that he commissioned the report in 2008 as a component of the institutional reform process developed through the DEC new strategic directions.
“The report was not done as a requirement of any donor or government initiative, it was an internal report.”
He said the purpose of the report was to determine whether financial management systems within the department needed to be improved.
Iamo said he was managing the transition of the department to a statutory authority which would allow the development of competitive remuneration and the recruitment of suitably qualified persons to the finance area.
Meanwhile, Bulolo MP Sam Basil described the department as untrusted and called on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to sack Minister for Environment and Conservation Benny Allan and the secretary following the report.
“The recent visit and statements made by the minister and his secretary after visiting Hidden Valley has proven to us that their position has been compromised; so if they can be branded as untrustworthy and irresponsible by a reputable accounting firm, then it is to the best interest of all Papua New Guineans that they be sacked immediately by the prime minister without delay,” Basil said.
Community-based advocacy group ACT NOW! had also called on Allan to investigate claims of financial mismanagement and misuse of trust funds as stated in the Deloitte report in his department.
“The minister needs to tell the people of Papua New Guinea what he is doing about these serious allegations,” ACT NOW! programme manager Efferey Dademo said.
“The government is calling on the international community to give billions of kina for deforestation measures, yet the evidence suggests DEC cannot be trusted with donor funds.”
Two further Deloitte reports pile further criticism on Wari Iamo and DEC
Two further deports from international consultancy firm Deloitte are highly critical of the Office of the Secretary and Finance section in the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in Papua New Guinea. Wari Iamo, Secretary of DEC also heads the Office of Climate Change and Development which is seeking to attract billions of dollars of new funding to PNG as part of international efforts to reduce deforestation
The two new reports are in addition to two earlier reports which revealed DEC complies with ‘almost none’ of the procedural requirements of the Public Finance Management Act’ [see here] and the Biodiversity Trust Fund, which holds funds from external donors, has been seriously abused with most expenditure being for unauthorized purposes and large sums totally unaccounted for [see here].
In one of the further reports, dated September 2008, Deloitte looks specifically at the standards within the office of the Secretary, Wari Iamo.
Deloitte found the volume of administrative activity in the Office of the Secretary is not large but performance is ineffectual and not meeting the expectations of internal and external stakeholders.
Management, coordination and reporting on departmental activities is inconsistent and at times below standard practice, says Deloitte.
No annual Financial Management Reports are being produced.
Performance standards within the Secretary’s office tend to be low which is exacerbated by non attendance at work.
In the second of the further reports, dated August 2008, Deloitte lists its criticisms of the Financial Management Branch which it says is not effective as:
- management reporting is not done each month
- bank reconciliations are not appropriate or timely
- requests for payment are not attended to in a timely manner
- cheques are released when proper procedures have not been complied with
- complete records are not kept or filed
- many reports are not compiled to comply with the Public Finance Management Act
- staff do not have basic compliance, accounting, reporting, reconciling or book keeping skills
- no qualified accountants are employed.
DEC Secretary, Wari Iamo, is no stranger to allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption. Ten years ago it was revealed that what was then the Office of Environment & Conservation (OEC), spent over K 150,000 at the Maggi seafood restaurant within a period of 9 months. It is believed that the receipts were used for ‘double-dipping’ in which the restaurant was really paid less than the invoiced amount, with the balance being returned to OEC staff. This was exposed in a television documentary, and also in local newspapers but when his Minister tried to initiate disciplinary proceeding against Iamo, the Minister was sacked by the Prime Minister, Michael Somare.
In 2002, PNG’s Ombudsman Commission recommended Wari Iamo be removed from the National Forest Board for his role in approving a huge illegal logging project to Rimbunan Hijau. That recommendation has never been implemented and Iamo still sits on the Forest Board and frequently takes the Chairman’s role.
DEC is often also criticised for its role in facilitating widespread illegal and unsustainable logging and failing to manage mines like Ok Tedi, Hidden Valley and Tolukuma, with their devastating environmental impacts.
Wari Iamo is currently in Madang where he is observing the trial of the Ramu nickel waste dumping case, where his Department is again under scrutiny. This time for approving the dumping of 100 million tons of mine waste into the sea – a practice which is banned in most other countries and which local people say will cause inevitable environmental damage.
DEC has also been criticised recently for approving the worlds first undersea mine, Solwara 1. An independent scientific analysis says the projects Environmental Impact Assessment presents a completly inadaequate assessment of the risks and likely impacts.
