Prime Minister Peter O'Neill acted quickly to
prevent a 2012 budget blow out by stripping T.H.E. Party leader Don Pomb Polye
off his Finance portfolio.
The sidelining of Mr Polye of the Finance portfolio was expected for sometime because Waigani was concerned that a substantial amount of money was drawn down from the budget, much of it to settle landowner issues relating to the PNG LNG project.
However, the Kandep MP and the leader of the major coalition partner in the O'Neill Namah Government still retains his Treasury and Border portfolios.
Mr O'Neill will take over the Finance portfolio temporarily until landowner issues and expenditure over runs are investigated and sorted out.
However, sources close to Polye said that the draw down of the budget was approved by Mr O'Neill and he should not blame Mr Polye for the budget over run.
Douglas Tomuriesa, Party president said last night that Mr O'Neill had all the powers to hire and fire ministers, but he will reconsider his decision.
I just hope that the PM can change his vision. We are a bigger coalition team in the government with 25 MPs and hope that the PM re-looks at his decision.
As a party, we have to rally behind our leader and make certain that our leader is strong enough to get us through the elections, Mr Tomuriesa said
In a statement last night, O'Neill announced he has temporarily taken charge of all financial matters after withdrawing these powers from Mr Polye.
In a letter to the Treasurer yesterday, Mr ONeill informed Mr Polye of his decision to take control of all financial matters indefinitely due to recent events concerning the payout of landowner funds and the ministers inability to reign in over-expenditure in his department.
This decision is in light of complaints in relation to various landowner funds as per the States responsibilities and commitments under the oil and Gas Act and UBSA and various LBBSA's under the PNG LNG Agreement, Mr O'Neill said.
Furthermore, the continuing lack of ability by the Department and Ministry Finance to contain expenditure overruns outside of the budget appropriations has not abated since I wrote to you last.
The decision is taken in the best interest of the government and our commitment to fight corruption at all levels, the PM said last
The sidelining of Mr Polye of the Finance portfolio was expected for sometime because Waigani was concerned that a substantial amount of money was drawn down from the budget, much of it to settle landowner issues relating to the PNG LNG project.
However, the Kandep MP and the leader of the major coalition partner in the O'Neill Namah Government still retains his Treasury and Border portfolios.
Mr O'Neill will take over the Finance portfolio temporarily until landowner issues and expenditure over runs are investigated and sorted out.
However, sources close to Polye said that the draw down of the budget was approved by Mr O'Neill and he should not blame Mr Polye for the budget over run.
Douglas Tomuriesa, Party president said last night that Mr O'Neill had all the powers to hire and fire ministers, but he will reconsider his decision.
I just hope that the PM can change his vision. We are a bigger coalition team in the government with 25 MPs and hope that the PM re-looks at his decision.
As a party, we have to rally behind our leader and make certain that our leader is strong enough to get us through the elections, Mr Tomuriesa said
In a statement last night, O'Neill announced he has temporarily taken charge of all financial matters after withdrawing these powers from Mr Polye.
In a letter to the Treasurer yesterday, Mr ONeill informed Mr Polye of his decision to take control of all financial matters indefinitely due to recent events concerning the payout of landowner funds and the ministers inability to reign in over-expenditure in his department.
This decision is in light of complaints in relation to various landowner funds as per the States responsibilities and commitments under the oil and Gas Act and UBSA and various LBBSA's under the PNG LNG Agreement, Mr O'Neill said.
Furthermore, the continuing lack of ability by the Department and Ministry Finance to contain expenditure overruns outside of the budget appropriations has not abated since I wrote to you last.
The decision is taken in the best interest of the government and our commitment to fight corruption at all levels, the PM said last
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