The Acting Director of the of the Office of Climate Change Joe Pokana says Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had approved for Environment and Conservation Minister’s Wife to be part of the PNG team to Paris for the World Climate Change talks from November 30 t
Pokana made this response after media reports surfaced about PNG delegation to Paris.
He confirmed that the Minister’s wife was not paid any travel allowance; “even the Minister himself did not get his travel allowance from the Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD).”
“There were not enough funds all their expenses like accommodation, food and taxes were paid for by the Minister privately, I can confirm that,” he stated
Pokana also says that Minister speaks the truth on the approaches, processes, procedures the PNG delegation took to ensure the success of COP21 and the adoption of Paris Agreement.
The COP is a two-week conference, first is covered by the technical negotiation and the second week is the high-level negotiation by politicians.
He says this is where politicians are needed most and that Minister Pundari was the only one that stayed on until the conclusion of the conference.
(File picture of PNG negotiators and Environment and Conservation Minister John Pundari)