PNG Opposition calls for fair treatment on people implicated in State deals

PORT MORESBY:Opposition Leader Don Polye has urged the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his Cabinet to treat senior public servants implicated in the State’s controversial matters ‘fairly without any bias.’
Mr Polye issued (today) the call in light of a chain of suspensions being served against the departmental heads over the Manumanu land deal.

He said the latest was Kumul Consolidated Holdings boss Gary Hersey, pending the outcome of a Commission of Inquiry, which he describes as ‘only a political gimmick and something which will not even take place.’
Polye added that if the Prime Minister had been really concerned about fighting corruption in the country, he should have, first,resigned from his office over a series of allegations of corruption levelled against him.
“Then Treasury Secretary Dairi Vele should have followed suit over the controversial K3 billion loan from the Union Bank of Swizz (UBS).
“It was not only that. Vele should have also been sidelined for the other questionable deal, involving the two diesel turbine generators which have cost our taxpayers more than K144 million,” a concerned Polye said.

He stated that these did not occur, querying why was the Prime Minister so unjust in the land issue.
“Our people also want to see those involved in the SABL, student unrest, K71.8 million Parakagate and the inflated cost variations on the Pacific Games running into billions of Kina among others,” he said.