PNG Parliament Clerk suspended for financial mismanagement
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| PNG Parliament Clerk Velo Konivaro suspended. |
The National Executive Council has suspended the Clerk of Parliament, Vela Konivaro, over serious allegations of financial mismanagement.
Highly-placed Government sources confirmed the decision by the National Executive Council yesterday to vet an investigation to look into all the allegations leveled against the Clerk and also to give him an opportunity to clear himself. The NEC made the decision following a request from Parliament Speaker Theo Zurenuoc.
"Yes because of the request from the Speaker due to serious allegations of financial mismanagement at Parliament and that an investigation team will be set up for him to clear himself," said a government official.
He said acting Deputy Clerk Bodi Kohu will be acting Clerk. Specific details of the allegations leveled against the Clerk were not given except that the NEC had opted to be fair and await the investigation team to conduct its own investigations into each of the allegations.
It is understood the Clerk will also be called up to respond to the allegations and will be given the opportunity to clear himself of those allegations.
Mr Konivaro, a lawyer formerly attached with the First Legislative Council, was appointed by the NEC in 2012 after the term of former Clerk Don Pandan lapsed.
Mr Zurenuoc, said he was yet to receive the official advice of the suspension from the NEC and therefore could not comment. He has been keen to promote his agenda to modernise and clean up Parliament but has been concerned about the slow pace of work in and around the House.
Amongst some of the changes is the controversial removal of the totem pole in parliament gallery and renovation and maintenance work.
The Speaker, it is believed, has been concerned about the engagement of contractors in Parliament and also the "excessive use" of funds over a short period of time. The National Parliament is set to resume in two weeks time on August 26.
Highly-placed Government sources confirmed the decision by the National Executive Council yesterday to vet an investigation to look into all the allegations leveled against the Clerk and also to give him an opportunity to clear himself. The NEC made the decision following a request from Parliament Speaker Theo Zurenuoc.
"Yes because of the request from the Speaker due to serious allegations of financial mismanagement at Parliament and that an investigation team will be set up for him to clear himself," said a government official.
He said acting Deputy Clerk Bodi Kohu will be acting Clerk. Specific details of the allegations leveled against the Clerk were not given except that the NEC had opted to be fair and await the investigation team to conduct its own investigations into each of the allegations.
It is understood the Clerk will also be called up to respond to the allegations and will be given the opportunity to clear himself of those allegations.
Mr Konivaro, a lawyer formerly attached with the First Legislative Council, was appointed by the NEC in 2012 after the term of former Clerk Don Pandan lapsed.
Mr Zurenuoc, said he was yet to receive the official advice of the suspension from the NEC and therefore could not comment. He has been keen to promote his agenda to modernise and clean up Parliament but has been concerned about the slow pace of work in and around the House.
Amongst some of the changes is the controversial removal of the totem pole in parliament gallery and renovation and maintenance work.
The Speaker, it is believed, has been concerned about the engagement of contractors in Parliament and also the "excessive use" of funds over a short period of time. The National Parliament is set to resume in two weeks time on August 26.
PNG Today / Post Courier
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