Commissioner General Koim Unravels Truth Behind Public Servants' Pay Cut; Issues Apology for Unrest

 Port Moresby, January 11, 2024 - In a critical announcement today, Commissioner General Sam Koim, OBE, addressed the nation, providing crucial insights into the circumstances surrounding the recent public servants' pay cut. He expressed deep regret for the loss of lives and property resulting from the regrettable incidents and called for unity amidst the chaos.

Breaking Down the Facts: Unveiling the Reality Behind Public Servants' Pay Cut

Koim clarified that the majority of the chaos stemmed from opportunists, misinformation, and political propaganda, despite the release of two statements yesterday. He urged the public to carefully consider the following facts before reacting impulsively.

Alesco System Configuration Issue: The Finance Department confirmed that a delayed reconfiguration of the Alesco system caused the temporary reduction of the tax-free threshold to K17,500 on January 1, 2024. This issue has been identified and resolved for Pay 2/2024.

Dependants' Rebates Removal: The proposed removal has not come into effect and is unlikely to have caused the pay deduction on Pay 1/2024.

Government Tax Increase: The government has not raised any tax rates affecting the average people and the working class.

Tax Relief Measures: The government raised the tax-free threshold from K12,500 to K20,000 in response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, forgoing approximately K300 million to provide relief to the working class.

Dependants' Rebates Removal: Recommended in 2015, the removal was anticipated to have minimal impact once the tax-free threshold was increased to K20,000, which is now permanent.

Dependants' Rebates Implementation Status: The amendment has not been gazetted and has not come into effect. Employers are not obligated to implement this until the law takes effect.

Regrettable Unrest: Koim expressed regret over the protests, emphasizing that seeking clarifications through established processes could have prevented much of the damage and loss.

Strong Condemnation: Koim condemned the looting and rampaging, calling on all Papua New Guineans to reject and condemn such behavior, irrespective of political views.

Moving Forward: A Call for Unity and Responsible Action

In conclusion, Koim reiterated the importance of prioritizing factual information and constructive dialogue to address concerns. He apologized once again for the opportunistic actions causing harm and called for unity, responsible commentary, and prayer for peace.

Commissioner General Koim emphasized, "The nation we are harming is the same nation we inhabit and will continue to live in; hence it is important for all of us to act responsibly."