$US40 mil warning – PC News 15 August 2008
THE Papua New Guinea Forest Owners Association (FOA) is calling for immediate establishment of a commission of inquiry into allegations of $US40million having been “parked’’ in a Singapore bank.
They are also calling on the leaders of Kikori and Ihu, Minister Mark Maipakai and Gulf Governor Havila Kavo to explain whether they knew anything of the allegations.
FOA president Dominic Evere yesterday warned that failing these requests all logging operations and other resource development would be halted in Gulf Province until the Government and their leaders responded.
Mr Evere said having spoken to very reliable sources since the reports of the money racket, it had been very disturbing for the people of Gulf, the province which accommodated seven of the country’s major logging operations.
“We are calling on the Prime Minister to establish a commission of inquiry immediately. The Government and its leaders have been silent on this issue. We are also calling strongly on our leaders, Mr Maipakai and Mr Kavo, to come out very clear’’ on this matter, Mr Evere said.
“Kikori has the largest or let’s say the highest and biggest logging operations in the country, then comes Western Province and Vanimo. Our area or Gulf for that matter is filthy rich and yet, for so many years there has been no development.
“Development for Gulf now is zero and people are already fed up. We rightly believe that money parked in Singapore is ours and we want it back but through justice.
“I warn that if the Government doesn’t do anything or our leaders do not come clear on us, we will have no choice but to mobilise all landowners and shut down all logging operations in that area. This will also include stopping other resource development in the area.
“Our people have suffered enough from all the mistreatments from the Government.
“Gulf has contributed so much and is still contributing to the national coffers and yet the State has given back nothing or very little towards the development of the province.”
The Government’s silences over this issue is getting ‘deapening’ to the extend that citizens are prepared to issue threats in an attempt to get some reasonable explanations on these allegation of possible fraud involving forest resource owners money.
We all join the Vailala/Kikori landowners to request that the Government give us some information on this allegation made in the media of this US$40.m.
The Prime Minister’s silences is not a responsible approach. He has the obligation as head of a responsible Government to tell his people the truth, nothing but the truth.
Then we have his two Ministers, the former Forest Minister and now Finance and Treasury Minister and the current Forest Minister, both also have to be accountable to us their people.
We as resource owners have a right to know what is happening to “our money” now growing in a Singapore account and there is fear that this money may have been transfered to another neighboring country.
Let us believe in the new Chief Ombudsman that he will make this his first assignment to investigate not that he has received the documents from the media organization that broke the story.
It is our duty as citizens to see and end to fraud and corruption.
The Prime Minister’s silence about the news of this secret bank account in Singapore is serious. The eloquence of silence is powerful enough to create its own interpretations! The days after the news of this secret account came out in the Post Courier, politicians rubbished and accused the paper of spreading mischievous lies and unfounded rumours. But the Post Courier was bold and has since moved to provide supporting documents to the Ombudsman Commission to investigate this account and bring those politicians into the light and scrutiny of the leadership code.
An issue that the investigation is likely to highlight is the professional capacity of the Ombudsman Commission to investigate and prosecute this case. Is the Ombudsman Commission capacitated (with qualified lawyers, accountants and bankers) to handle international fraud? On the other hand if the money in that account is found to be coming in from alleged logging operators in the country, what legal steps can the Ombudsman Commission take within the limits of its jurisdictions?
I believe the documents have also been given to the new unit established recently to investigate Fraud and Money Laundering in the Police Department. Lets pray that even if the Ombudsman Commission could not investigate beyond its jurisdictions, the Police would be able to hand this over to Interpol and request Interpol’s assistance to investigate this international crime against people of PNG.
We ask that PNG Police move on with this investigation and tell the people of PNG who those Ministers are.
I’m curious to find out what blog platform you happen to be utilizing? I’m having some small security problems with my latest blog and I would like to find something more secure. Do you have any recommendations?