Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) has grave concerns about the Prime Minister’s commitment to integrity, given recent remarks justifying his dramatic change of mind in making two key Ministerial re-appointments.
TIPNG says PM Peter O’Neill effectively acted against his own earlier decision, which in accordance with principles of good governance, was to protect the investigation into the K46m Manumanu land deal by sidelining William Duma and Dr. Fabian Pok until such time as it had been completed.
On Tuesday 26th September, in responding to questions on the floor of Parliament by Peter Isoaimo, Member for Kairuku-Hiri, and James Donald, Member for North Fly, the Prime Minister is reported to have justified his controversial decision to re-appoint Duma and Dr. Pok to ministerial portfolios by saying: “We will address the issues that may come to light at the end of the enquiry [sic] it’s no point me preempt [sic] the outcomes of the enquiry [sic] under our jurisdiction, the members should know all citizens are innocent until proven guilty”.
This is a direct contradiction of the Prime Minister’s statement to the media in February of this year when he said Duma and Dr. Pok “will step aside from their ministerial responsibilities pending the conclusion and outcomes of the Commission of Inquiry [now an Administrative Inquiry]”. Furthermore, PM O’Neill said: “It is now clear that these agencies of Government have not worked together in a coordinated way to facilitate the implementation of the 2012 Government NEC decision. The acquisition of this land has been done in clear violation of the Government’s decision, and resulted in K78.4 million being paid”.
Chairman of TIPNG, Lawrence Stephens, in a media release, said: “Papua New Guineans know that if a Minister is being investigated, he or she must step down to preserve the integrity of the office they hold, the PM must follow through his earlier commitment to integrity and revoke the appointments of Duma and Pok until the Administrative Inquiry into the Manumanu Land Deal is completed and the results made public.”
Stephens also observed that the Members of Parliament and media must be commended for reminding the Prime Minister of his commitment to integrity and protecting the course of justice.
(Loop file pic of William Duma and Dr. Fabian Pok)