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NCDC disowns audit report but does not exonerate Parkop
Bernard Sinai is reporting on his blog that the NCDC audit report posted on PNGexposed has been officially disowned by the National Capital District Commission which is denying authorship – but there has been no denial that the facts contained in the report and the allegations of misconduct against NCDC governor, Powes Parkop, are not genuine.
Sinai claims that in a press release sanctioned by NCDC Chief Internal Auditor, Matapere Tau, the NCDC says the “alleged report was neither prepared nor authored by the NCDC Internal Audit division or the Audit Committee.”
The audit report alleges that the governor breached several Acts including the Public Finance Management Act and the NCDC Act and has failed to declare a conflict of interest in the NCDC’s commercial dealings with Parkop’s political ally and chief fundraiser, Justin Tkatchencko (who received more than K3 million in 2010 alone).
While the NCDC Internal Audit division has affirmed “it executes its functions with strict accordance to the Internal Audit Charter and reports to the Independent Audit Committee” it has not stated that the Governor is so squeaky clean in his own financial dealings.
Payments by Parkop to Tkatchencko exposed
Justin Tkatchencko received over K3 million in 2010 from the National Capital District according to the schedule of payments below.
These payments, it is claimed, were authorised by NCDC Governor Powes Parkop in breach of the Public Finance Management Act, the NCDC Act and the Organic Law on the Leadership Code (see report).
Justin Tkatchenko is a political ally of the Governor and the fundraising Chairman for the Governor’s Peoples Social Democratic Front Party thus creating a clear conflict of interest for Parkop.
Further, the payments, which were made for work on the NCDC Mini Park, Water Fountain, Waterslide and Zoo and Animal Farm, were made with no quotations provided and no tender advertised or accepted, claims the report.
These failures, say the report, breach the fundamental principles of value for money, transparency, effective competition, fair and ethical dealing and efficiency.
Audit report paints sorry picture of waste management in PNG
A report from Papua New Guinea’s Auditor General reveals that waste management in PNG is “ineffective and fragmented” and the Department of Conservation is failing in its role as lead agency.
The report (2.8mb) also finds there is little reason for optimism that the situation will change in the near future.
“The absence of proper waste processing facilities and well developed landfill sites in Port Moresby and other parts of the country, mean that the open and uncontrolled dumping of waste is likely to continue, leading to harmful impacts on the health and welfare of the people and the environment”.
The report, which was presented to Parliament in October 2010 presents the findings of an audit conducted to assess how efficiently, effectively and economically solid waste is managed in PNG.
The audit focused mainly on the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), since it is the lead agency responsible for planning, coordinating and providing the national legal/policy framework in relation to environmental protection at all sectors, and governments levels.
The audit found there are neither proper plans nor provision of sufficient funding in the budget for waste management prevention or awareness programs. This is despite the fact waste management can have a negative impact on the health and welfare of the community and has both direct and indirect linkages to economic development,
In Port Moresby, a lack of policy for the management of waste and the inadequate approach to waste prevention, collection and treatment and disposal, and the lack of adequate services in the settlements, means that, there is indiscriminate dumping of refuse in all parts of Port Moresby into waterways, drains, roadsides and other public places.
The audit also highlights the high health risks from the inadequate methods of disposal of medical waste at the Baruni Dump in Port Moresby
“Dump operators, nearby residents and inhabitants of the Baruni Dump are exposed to high health risks, specifically the community who live adjacent to the medical waste disposal site. Indiscriminate dumping of medical waste and the practice of burying it in shallow pits, partially burning it with kerosene, and partly covering it with soil is considered as a serious health hazard..
Although the Auditor General recommended that DEC formulates a consolidated National Solid Waste Law to deal with the management of waste across the whole of PNG, that advice has been rejected by DEC which is instead only developing specific regulations under the Environment Act, 2000.
David Conn denies authorship of report
David Conn has contacted pngexposed to deny that he is the author of a report accusing NCD governor, Powes Parkop, of gross financial mismanagement:
Suggest you check your sources before putting anything to print , people . I am the Chairman of the NCD Audit Committee . I did not write this report . I am told a report will be presented to the Audit Committe this week , but that this is not it . I have never seen this report so allowing it to go out with my name on it twice does pose you some problems. Is it not simple Journalism 101 to check your sources ? Please remove references to myself from this piece of work . Dave Conn
Hopefully David will be in contact again after the Audit Committee meeting this week to let us know what the situation is.
ballets or bullets in the 2012 election?
Read the report that accuses Parkop of financial mismanagement
Read the Report that accuses National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop, of gross financial mismanagement and a conflict of interest in his payments of over K3 million to PNG Garderner Justin Tkatchenko.
Filer accused of conflicts of interest
An email is being circulated under the pseudonym ‘Dirom Boy’ that accuses Australian National University academic Colin Filer of defending the resource industry in Papua New Guinea and conflicts of interest.
The Australian National University seems to have some academics who defend Logging interests, Climate Change Cowboys and Oil Palm projects. Why do resource projects in Papua New Guinea matter to some staff at ANU? Why do these brown-nosed table cats want to use academic titles as cover?
Attached is a secret document that was acquired by WikiLeaks and leaked on its site.
Happy reading
Parkop accused of gross financial mismanagement
National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop, has been accused of gross financial mismanagement in what is claimed to be an ‘internal audit report’.
The report presents prima facie evidence that Parkop, City Manager, Leslie Alu and the Executive Management Committee have all acted beyond their powers in approving substantial payments to named individuals and companies without following proper processes. Parkop is also accused of breaching the Public Finance Management Act, the NCDC Act and the Organic Law on the Leadership Code.
One prominent beneficiary of the Governor’s largess has been Justin Thcthenko, a political ally of the Governor and the fundraising Chairman for the Governors Peoples Social Democratic Front Party.
Payments made to Thcthenko companies in 2010 totaled over K3 million for work on the NCDC Mini Park, Water Fountain, Waterslide and Zoo and Animal Farm. No quotation were provided for any of these works and there was no tender advertised or accepted, says the report.
These failures, say the report, breach the fundamental principles of value for money, transparency, effective competition, fair and ethical dealing and efficiency. They also constitute a conflict of interest for the Governor
The report alleges Parkop has established two special bank accounts called “Centrally Controlled Funds” and “Special Project Funds” for which the Governor is the authorizing officer and ‘strictly controls’ any payments.
Good-bye Mr Conrad
By Kolopu Waima
Papua New Guinea’s new government will replace the Ambassador for Climate Change, Kevin Conrad, who has been representing Papua New Guinea but lives in New York in the United States of America.
Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah announced this at the official handover ceremony for the Ministry of Environment and Conservation at the Holiday Inn in Port Moresby yesterday. Mr Namah said that it is no good for someone who has few or no knowledge about the culture, tradition and lifestyle of the people and cannot understand and solve landowner issues in the country to represent Papua New Guinea.
“I want the office of climate change to be restructured and there will be no ambassador living overseas, I want to replace the ambassador for climate change Kevin Conrad, the office must be here and the ambassador must live in PNG, not in overseas. Let some of our own men who know landowner issues very well take on the responsibility so that they can address the issues easily, we want change and have PNG on the safe side, the old regime is gone and this is a new regime”
Mr Namah, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Forest, thanked former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare for getting political independence but said his government will bring economic independence.
Another day, another cop, another ‘on the spot’ fine….
Anyone familiar with driving in Port Moresby, or almost any other town in Papua New Guinea, is used to paying ‘fines’ to corrupt police officers who seem to mount a road block whenever they are short of a few kina for their buai or weekly shopping or a beer after work.
Today it was at Gerehu Stage 2 and the ‘fine’ was for not wearing a seat belt. The cop wanted K20 but when our driver, Paul, siad he had to go, the amount demanded was quickly dropped to K10.
Money paid, we were quickly on our way, the policeman oblivious to our camera….. and content probably with the thought that if the ‘top shots’ in Waigani can steal millions then why shouldn’t he help himself to a few kina!
