PRIME Minister Peter O'Neill has promised an
investigation into allegations of misappropriation of public funds in Northern
Province.
Mr O'Neill s statement comes after the Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek announced last week that the Ombudsman Commission will move quickly to investigate many allegations in the province in both the provincial administration and the disaster restoration funds.
The Prime Minister said yesterday that he will be asking the Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc to investigate the allegations further and report to him immediately.
If there are any truths into the allegations of misappropriation by the administration than they will be treated like anybody else this is a government that is fighting corruption at all levels, he said.
Mr O'Neill was responding to questions raised by this paper on the current issues affecting the province almost five years after the Tropical Cyclone Guba disaster in 2007 and the current issues on misappropriation affecting the province.
He said it is a tragedy when funds meant for disaster or grants tied to school and health infrastructures are misused by those in authority entrusted to deliver.
Earlier Mr Manek said misuse of public monies and bad leadership is a man-made disaster that affects the lives of many of our citizens especially those living in rural areas and the worst outcomes are when funds allocated to save lives are misused by those who are entrusted to save lives.
The latest issue in the province is the K20 million education development grants of which, funds were diverted by the administration without the knowledge of the provincial education advisor Ian Kopukoro or the provincial education board for other purposes other than its intended purposes.
From the K20m, K2.5 million was diverted to purchase 13 vehicles from a car dealer in Port Moresby and K12 million from the remaining K17.5million was diverted to cover other outstanding expenses incurred by the administration in 2010.
The Minister for Higher Education and Ijivitari MP David Arore at that time denied any knowledge of the funds misuse and that he was surprised as to how the grants specifically earmarked for rehabilitation of education facilities were diverted.
Mr Arore said as a minister and leader of the province, he had no idea as to when the funds were released to in the province, but only to learn later of how it was exhausted while demanding an investigation into the matter.
Mr O'Neill said his government is people focused and every bureaucrat either at the national or provincial and district level must deliver services to the people.
Mr O'Neill s statement comes after the Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek announced last week that the Ombudsman Commission will move quickly to investigate many allegations in the province in both the provincial administration and the disaster restoration funds.
The Prime Minister said yesterday that he will be asking the Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc to investigate the allegations further and report to him immediately.
If there are any truths into the allegations of misappropriation by the administration than they will be treated like anybody else this is a government that is fighting corruption at all levels, he said.
Mr O'Neill was responding to questions raised by this paper on the current issues affecting the province almost five years after the Tropical Cyclone Guba disaster in 2007 and the current issues on misappropriation affecting the province.
He said it is a tragedy when funds meant for disaster or grants tied to school and health infrastructures are misused by those in authority entrusted to deliver.
Earlier Mr Manek said misuse of public monies and bad leadership is a man-made disaster that affects the lives of many of our citizens especially those living in rural areas and the worst outcomes are when funds allocated to save lives are misused by those who are entrusted to save lives.
The latest issue in the province is the K20 million education development grants of which, funds were diverted by the administration without the knowledge of the provincial education advisor Ian Kopukoro or the provincial education board for other purposes other than its intended purposes.
From the K20m, K2.5 million was diverted to purchase 13 vehicles from a car dealer in Port Moresby and K12 million from the remaining K17.5million was diverted to cover other outstanding expenses incurred by the administration in 2010.
The Minister for Higher Education and Ijivitari MP David Arore at that time denied any knowledge of the funds misuse and that he was surprised as to how the grants specifically earmarked for rehabilitation of education facilities were diverted.
Mr Arore said as a minister and leader of the province, he had no idea as to when the funds were released to in the province, but only to learn later of how it was exhausted while demanding an investigation into the matter.
Mr O'Neill said his government is people focused and every bureaucrat either at the national or provincial and district level must deliver services to the people.
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