PNG Opposition raises concerns over K100 million cut in Law, Justice sector

PORT MORESBY: Amidst the law and justice sector earning the confidence of the public in upholding the country’s rule of law, Opposition Leader Don Pomb Polye has described its K100 million cut in 2016 Budget as ‘outrageous and deplorable’.

“The Ombudsman Commission, Police, Courts and the Task Force Sweep have been at the forefront in fighting corruption and upholding rule of law in the country.

“Them being starved with a slash of K100 million in light of rife in corruption, serial breach of the constitution and other laws by those in power and the Prime Minister with some of his MPs’ charter and conduct coming into question under the leadership code is unbecoming,” said a concerned Mr Polye.

He said the law enforcement agencies had recorded an unprecedented scale with leaders being tried under the leadership code.

“Here the Prime Minister and his economic ministers have seen fit to cut it to have their mouths gagged, limbs tied and eyes blind-folded,” he said.

He said the writing was on the wall, adding what they were doing was under the scrutiny of the people.

The Opposition Leader has called on the Prime Minister to pull out K100 million parked under the treasury secretary’s vote and make up for the cut with this.

He has alluded to such irresponsible act of the government being one of the reasons among others to have 2016 Budget bulldozed without giving the Opposition a week to give its reply.

Polye said the fundamental discrepancies in the budget documents left the people a lot to be desired for, especially the government’s competency in putting the country’s budget together.

He has urged the people and the business houses to carefully study the budget books if they have them as most figures and facts do not co-relate with each other.