Whistelblower Nadile has car seized in late night police raid

By a Special Correspondent

Whistleblower Dr. Rona Nadile, suspended and then sacked from the Department of Labour for revealing misappropriation and misuse of Trust Funds, has had her official vehicle seized by police in a heavy-handed and humiliating late-night raid.

Dr Nadile was at fellowship at home with church fellowship when at about 10 o’clock at night a Police vehicle (ZGC 978) with at least five policemen from Waigani Police Station arrived at her house. And if that wasn’t enough, the police vehicle was accompanied by a private registered van (CAX 179).

There were about 14 people in all, cowards and bullies, ever so big and strong and ever so brave to commandeer Dr. Nadile’s vehicle, which was her right to hold.

Dr Nadile was allowed no representation and was forced to hand over the keys

to the vehicle. Not one of the police would disclose his name. The perpetrators who organised this outrage should be brought to account immediately.

How demeaning is this and what intimidation for any citizen of Papua New Guinea let alone a professional like Dr. Nadile. The person(s) responsible for this must be so nasty and mean that he/she is not fit to hold any responsible position.

For the sake of the country, there should be no waiting around this time with the saga of never ending donkey processes.

Not with standing this trauma Rona Nadile, and always with a heart and commitment to the country, was given a lift by a friend and was there as the sun rose over Independence Hill today to bless this nation for a better future.

Public use Social Networks to show their support for whistleblower Nadile

Ordinary Papua New Guineans are showing their support for sacked whistleblower Dr Rhona Nadile on social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter. Dr Nadile was suspended and then sacked from her position in the Department of Labour for questioning gross misappropriation and misuse of Trust Funds.

PB:  She’s an honest and straight talking person. she should be commended by the Government and the public for her stand; all around the public sector there’s far too much casual misuse of public funds for (often unnecessary and usually over-extended) travel, hotel costs, ‘entertainment of all sorts’ and allowances. If the public sector was filled with people who protected public funds from waste, like Dr Nadile, and whistleblew when it is wasted, then there’d be funds left for what govt is actually there for, and staff at their desks (or in the field), where they should be, serving their clients – notably the PNG public! .. and not in the nightclubs and casinos overseas!

LGN:  The Department Secretary should be investigated by the OC and other relevant authorities. His threats of suing a paper for defamation may have no basis, if allegations are proven to be true. Good on Dr Nadile for standing up and doing her job ‘without fear or favour’.

KJN:  Dr Nadile got fired for following the regulations written for her to follow. She got fired for doing the right thing. Many people get condone for doing the wrong thing. Dr Nadile, I salute you. Better to be honest than to lose sleep for doing wrong.

DT:  Operation Sweep must clean up this pathetic excuse of a governemnt department including Lands, Housing, Finance and Treasury and National Planning itself..

BH:  She got a lot of support in Tokbek with Roger Hauofa last week. Many spoke up for her. It was heartening. Really good stuff

BH:  Rhona from Milne Bay is small in stature and tall in her committment. Great lady.

VHM:  She should sue them, everyone else who deserves to get fired, seems to win their cases and get paid out ridiculous sums or get reinstated…

CMFN:   Agree with all the above comments and those of us who know Dr Nadile never had doubts about her story. Have you ever wondered why there are so many honest experienced former public servants who are not employed anymore? Who do we approach to ensure that they are re-employed as we can trust them to do the right and honest thing always, not swindle away the public funds held by government for service to her people.

FZL:  The Public Service needs people like Dr. Nadile. This is sad news. She should be adequately compensated for doing her job. Cudos to her!! I’m sure there are many other capacities that Dr Nadile can fill out comfortably. Good people are just people you gotta have on your team.

Anon:  “Dr. Rona Nadile is the vanguard for all of us all against corruption. Is she to be the ‘sacrificial lamb’? In forums such as the news papers, Roger Hau’ofa and his FM 100 ‘Tokbek’ and ‘Sharp Talk’ on face book, we have all heard about a little lady from Milne Bay suspended with full entitlements because of her revealing the practice of the aimless “junketing” and other smart forms of the miss-appropriating by certain public servants. The comments gave her full praise and endorsement for the work she does. The Prime Minister has vowed to take action on corruption. But those who report it are silenced by fear of retribution.”

JW:  If it’s any consolation to Dr Nadile, thank you for deciding not to be a bystander..blessed are the cracked for they let the light in

PFP:  Can we create an online campaign an FB page in her support and get everyone to support?

EG:  We also need to get the Ombudsman Commission to follow up the complaint by Dr Nadile. Keep the pressure on the media.

Anon:  This is a case for Prime Minister, Minister Bart Philemon, Chief Secretary, Commissioner of Police, and all of us, to take action. Do something about this and immediately stop such intimidating and inhuman practice by taking action on the persons concerned. Dr. Rona Nadile is a great person, but many of the less brave and vocal citizens, who live in fear, have this happen to them all the time.

DD:  I am interested to see this tough Papua New Guinean gets appraisal for her integrity, honesty and bravery! I am content to know we do have more people like minded such as Dr. Nadile and will only rest when there is recognition and justice for her actions…Well done Dr. Nadile!!!

RK:  Totally agree that we need a persistent media to keep this going and reminding everyone of of the matter and corruption going on. Keep on going strong

TG:  She should be reinstated without further delay! We need her, period!

If O’Neill is serious about corruption he must protect whistleblowers like Dr Nadile

Prime Minister O’Neill’s vow to tackle corruption and the misuse of public monies is not going to bear any fruit unless the government moves to protect whistleblowers like Dr Rhona Nadile. Nadile has been sacked from the Department of Labour, where she was a senior officer, for exposing gross misappropriation and inappropriate use of trust funds..

One case involved the drawdown of K241,000 to cover the travel costs for Secretary George Vaso and his staff to travel to Fiji for an extended stay of 18 days to attend two conferences which were only for 8 days. Another case involved the use of K500,000 from the Work Permit Trust Account so a delegation could attend an ILO conference in Geneva.

“Enough is enough”, wrote Nadile in a memo to Vaso, “I have witnessed numerous occasions of gross misappropriation and inappropriate use of WPTA funds”.

As a result of her questioning of the payments Nadile was suspended from duty and charged with gross insubordination and has now been dismissed

Meanwhile a report outlining specific cases of abuse of funds have been given to new Minister for Labour, Martin Aini but he has failed to make any public statement on the matter.

George Vaso, who made the decision to charge, suspend and then sack Dr Nadile was himself appointed to his post by Peter O’Neill when he was Public Service Minister.