Massive scam within AIDS council: Barter

Sir Peter Leslie Charles Barter, OBE (born March 26, 1940) was a former Minister for Health and Bougainville Affairs in the Papua New Guinean Government and a strong and candid advocate for health issues in Papua New Guinea

There is massive corruption “involving millions of kina” within the National AIDS Council (NAC).NAC secretariat chairman Sir Peter Barter confirmed this yesterday.He has also described as “unacceptable” a letter from NACS acting director Romulus Pakure regarding more than two million condoms going past their expiry date without being distributed.Sir Peter confirmed this while international media reported of HIV/AIDS ravaging PNG as the NACS became “rotten to the core”.

“It’s a mess,” he told The National.“That’s all I can say about it.“There is an inspection going on, as well as an internal investigation,” Sir Peter said.“It’s quite a big scam involving millions of kina.”Australian Associated Press reported that the NACS had overspent its budget, with millions of kina wasted – most notably on unnecessary travel – while about 2% of PNG’s population became infected with HIV/AIDS.AAP reported that it had documents outlining alleged abuses by NACS staff.

The National AIDS Council is doing a great job so far but it needs more money to carry out it's programs, especially in the rural areas of Papua New Guinea

Sir Peter also told The National that the Government should shoulder its share of the blame.The NACS had been without a council and substantive director for almost two years, Sir Peter said. “The Government must also take the responsibility as well,” he said.“To correct something like this, that has been going on for so long, is extremely difficult.“The NAC first met on Dec 15 after almost 18 months without a council.

“After a shutdown over Christmas/New Year, a meeting was held last month.“The main focus was to get a director appointed to take charge again.“The NACS has been without a substantive director for almost two years,” Sir Peter said. “We are dealing with alleged corruption along with ways to operate with a 67% reduction in the budget, coupled with the devalued Australian funding.

“We are making progress towards appointment of a director, along with measures to prevent further wastage of funds,” he added.Sir Peter said a new director for NACS should be appointed towards the middle of this month or early next month.NACS acting director Romulus Pakure said in his (March 4) letter to Sir Peter that 586,064 condoms held in the AusAID/NACS warehouse at Badili had reached expiry date.“None of these condoms have been purchased by NACS,” he said.

“Rather, they are the remainder of inventories that were transferred to NACS following the wind-up of NHASP (support project) or part of a consignment donated in late 2007 which had a relatively short shelf life.“It is not known exactly when the NHASP condoms were purchased, however.

“Generally, condoms are supplied with a four-to-five-year shelf life.“Further, NACS has not purchased any pre-packed condoms that are unsuitable for current dispensing machines.“Only the Karamap pre-packed condoms, which were originally designed for retail vending machines, were unsuitable for use in the NACS dispensers.”

By MALUM NALU of The National

*** It makes me sick to my stomach and so disgusting to read everyday of the enormous corruption involving huge amounts of public money. Corruption is fast becoming a chronic disease that is rapidly consuming the fabrics of every good policies that are in place to bring development to PNG.

I fear for the implications of continuous corruption that will have on our next generation. I am helpless to say the least but I hope that every thinking and genuine Papua New Guinean should and must stand up to speak against such an evil trend. If we don't, who will?

Massive scam within AIDS council: Barter

Sir Peter Leslie Charles Barter, OBE (born March 26, 1940) was a former Minister for Health and Bougainville Affairs in the Papua New Guinean Government and a strong and candid advocate for health issues in Papua New Guinea

There is massive corruption “involving millions of kina” within the National AIDS Council (NAC).NAC secretariat chairman Sir Peter Barter confirmed this yesterday.He has also described as “unacceptable” a letter from NACS acting director Romulus Pakure regarding more than two million condoms going past their expiry date without being distributed.Sir Peter confirmed this while international media reported of HIV/AIDS ravaging PNG as the NACS became “rotten to the core”.

“It’s a mess,” he told The National.“That’s all I can say about it.“There is an inspection going on, as well as an internal investigation,” Sir Peter said.“It’s quite a big scam involving millions of kina.”Australian Associated Press reported that the NACS had overspent its budget, with millions of kina wasted – most notably on unnecessary travel – while about 2% of PNG’s population became infected with HIV/AIDS.AAP reported that it had documents outlining alleged abuses by NACS staff.

The National AIDS Council is doing a great job so far but it needs more money to carry out it's programs, especially in the rural areas of Papua New Guinea

Sir Peter also told The National that the Government should shoulder its share of the blame.The NACS had been without a council and substantive director for almost two years, Sir Peter said. “The Government must also take the responsibility as well,” he said.“To correct something like this, that has been going on for so long, is extremely difficult.“The NAC first met on Dec 15 after almost 18 months without a council.

“After a shutdown over Christmas/New Year, a meeting was held last month.“The main focus was to get a director appointed to take charge again.“The NACS has been without a substantive director for almost two years,” Sir Peter said. “We are dealing with alleged corruption along with ways to operate with a 67% reduction in the budget, coupled with the devalued Australian funding.

“We are making progress towards appointment of a director, along with measures to prevent further wastage of funds,” he added.Sir Peter said a new director for NACS should be appointed towards the middle of this month or early next month.NACS acting director Romulus Pakure said in his (March 4) letter to Sir Peter that 586,064 condoms held in the AusAID/NACS warehouse at Badili had reached expiry date.“None of these condoms have been purchased by NACS,” he said.

“Rather, they are the remainder of inventories that were transferred to NACS following the wind-up of NHASP (support project) or part of a consignment donated in late 2007 which had a relatively short shelf life.“It is not known exactly when the NHASP condoms were purchased, however.

“Generally, condoms are supplied with a four-to-five-year shelf life.“Further, NACS has not purchased any pre-packed condoms that are unsuitable for current dispensing machines.“Only the Karamap pre-packed condoms, which were originally designed for retail vending machines, were unsuitable for use in the NACS dispensers.”

By MALUM NALU of The National

*** It makes me sick to my stomach and so disgusting to read everyday of the enormous corruption involving huge amounts of public money. Corruption is fast becoming a chronic disease that is rapidly consuming the fabrics of every good policies that are in place to bring development to PNG.

I fear for the implications of continuous corruption that will have on our next generation. I am helpless to say the least but I hope that every thinking and genuine Papua New Guinean should and must stand up to speak against such an evil trend. If we don't, who will?

Massive scam within AIDS council: Barter

Sir Peter Leslie Charles Barter, OBE (born March 26, 1940) was a former Minister for Health and Bougainville Affairs in the Papua New Guinean Government and a strong and candid advocate for health issues in Papua New Guinea

There is massive corruption “involving millions of kina” within the National AIDS Council (NAC).NAC secretariat chairman Sir Peter Barter confirmed this yesterday.He has also described as “unacceptable” a letter from NACS acting director Romulus Pakure regarding more than two million condoms going past their expiry date without being distributed.Sir Peter confirmed this while international media reported of HIV/AIDS ravaging PNG as the NACS became “rotten to the core”.

“It’s a mess,” he told The National.“That’s all I can say about it.“There is an inspection going on, as well as an internal investigation,” Sir Peter said.“It’s quite a big scam involving millions of kina.”Australian Associated Press reported that the NACS had overspent its budget, with millions of kina wasted – most notably on unnecessary travel – while about 2% of PNG’s population became infected with HIV/AIDS.AAP reported that it had documents outlining alleged abuses by NACS staff.

The National AIDS Council is doing a great job so far but it needs more money to carry out it's programs, especially in the rural areas of Papua New Guinea

Sir Peter also told The National that the Government should shoulder its share of the blame.The NACS had been without a council and substantive director for almost two years, Sir Peter said. “The Government must also take the responsibility as well,” he said.“To correct something like this, that has been going on for so long, is extremely difficult.“The NAC first met on Dec 15 after almost 18 months without a council.

“After a shutdown over Christmas/New Year, a meeting was held last month.“The main focus was to get a director appointed to take charge again.“The NACS has been without a substantive director for almost two years,” Sir Peter said. “We are dealing with alleged corruption along with ways to operate with a 67% reduction in the budget, coupled with the devalued Australian funding.

“We are making progress towards appointment of a director, along with measures to prevent further wastage of funds,” he added.Sir Peter said a new director for NACS should be appointed towards the middle of this month or early next month.NACS acting director Romulus Pakure said in his (March 4) letter to Sir Peter that 586,064 condoms held in the AusAID/NACS warehouse at Badili had reached expiry date.“None of these condoms have been purchased by NACS,” he said.

“Rather, they are the remainder of inventories that were transferred to NACS following the wind-up of NHASP (support project) or part of a consignment donated in late 2007 which had a relatively short shelf life.“It is not known exactly when the NHASP condoms were purchased, however.

“Generally, condoms are supplied with a four-to-five-year shelf life.“Further, NACS has not purchased any pre-packed condoms that are unsuitable for current dispensing machines.“Only the Karamap pre-packed condoms, which were originally designed for retail vending machines, were unsuitable for use in the NACS dispensers.”

By MALUM NALU of The National

*** It makes me sick to my stomach and so disgusting to read everyday of the enormous corruption involving huge amounts of public money. Corruption is fast becoming a chronic disease that is rapidly consuming the fabrics of every good policies that are in place to bring development to PNG.

I fear for the implications of continuous corruption that will have on our next generation. I am helpless to say the least but I hope that every thinking and genuine Papua New Guinean should and must stand up to speak against such an evil trend. If we don't, who will?

The impression that counts!

It will amaze many people to learn that a government minister owns a company which has been contracted by the department that the minister looks after. We are speaking of the Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi, who owns Mountain Hire Cars Ltd, one of several car rental companies that were contracted by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to provide vehicles.

We are not disputing the need for vehicles to get police into action. Neither are we disputing the right of the Minister to own and operate a business (although there are times when we harken back to the 1970s battle between Sir Michael Somare and Sir Julius Chan over a leadership code proposal to ban ministers owning businesses!).

We are extremely worried however about a government department hiring vehicles from a business owned by their political head.What Mr Rambi did in business before he went into politics is his own business. But from the time he stepped into Parliament as an elected leader, there should have been an inbuilt sense of what is right and proper to kick in.This applies to both ends of the transaction.

The Minister should, in the minds of many, have kept his car hire business away from dealings with thedepartment he has control over. And the department should have known better than to do a deal with their Minister’s business.We seem to recall a senior public servant eventually lost his job after there was a furore about him taking on a family member to work for him, even though the sibling had very good work credentials.

That is, even when the person was well qualified and deserving of the job, it was the appearance that he could have got the job because of who he knew. A similar impression is created here.Although the Mountain Hire Car vehicles are probably very good and adequate for the job, the job involved transporting police officers around . . . and the contract payments going to a company owned by the Minister.

It would be a good example if the Minister stood aside until the authorities check the situation about police hiring of his vehicles and verify that it was all done in a correct and transparent way.


Source: Post Courier editorial

*** Probe Rambi and Baki

I refer to the report “Police Minister grilled over deals” (March 5). The allegations of millions of kina paid to Police Minister Sani Rambi’s rental car company that also involved Police Commissioner Gari Baki is a classic example of gross abuse of power and trust bestowed upon them.

It portrayed poor leadership qualities and hidden motives. Mr Rambi had put himself in a position of conflict of interest. He and Mr Baki owe the RPNGC members and the nation an explanation.

Where is transparency and accountability preached by the National Alliance party before taking office? I call on the authorities to conduct an investigation into both of them.

– David Ulg Ketepa,
Detroit, Michigan, USA

The impression that counts!

It will amaze many people to learn that a government minister owns a company which has been contracted by the department that the minister looks after. We are speaking of the Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi, who owns Mountain Hire Cars Ltd, one of several car rental companies that were contracted by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to provide vehicles.

We are not disputing the need for vehicles to get police into action. Neither are we disputing the right of the Minister to own and operate a business (although there are times when we harken back to the 1970s battle between Sir Michael Somare and Sir Julius Chan over a leadership code proposal to ban ministers owning businesses!).

We are extremely worried however about a government department hiring vehicles from a business owned by their political head.What Mr Rambi did in business before he went into politics is his own business. But from the time he stepped into Parliament as an elected leader, there should have been an inbuilt sense of what is right and proper to kick in.This applies to both ends of the transaction.

The Minister should, in the minds of many, have kept his car hire business away from dealings with thedepartment he has control over. And the department should have known better than to do a deal with their Minister’s business.We seem to recall a senior public servant eventually lost his job after there was a furore about him taking on a family member to work for him, even though the sibling had very good work credentials.

That is, even when the person was well qualified and deserving of the job, it was the appearance that he could have got the job because of who he knew. A similar impression is created here.Although the Mountain Hire Car vehicles are probably very good and adequate for the job, the job involved transporting police officers around . . . and the contract payments going to a company owned by the Minister.

It would be a good example if the Minister stood aside until the authorities check the situation about police hiring of his vehicles and verify that it was all done in a correct and transparent way.


Source: Post Courier editorial

*** Probe Rambi and Baki

I refer to the report “Police Minister grilled over deals” (March 5). The allegations of millions of kina paid to Police Minister Sani Rambi’s rental car company that also involved Police Commissioner Gari Baki is a classic example of gross abuse of power and trust bestowed upon them.

It portrayed poor leadership qualities and hidden motives. Mr Rambi had put himself in a position of conflict of interest. He and Mr Baki owe the RPNGC members and the nation an explanation.

Where is transparency and accountability preached by the National Alliance party before taking office? I call on the authorities to conduct an investigation into both of them.

– David Ulg Ketepa,
Detroit, Michigan, USA

The impression that counts!

It will amaze many people to learn that a government minister owns a company which has been contracted by the department that the minister looks after. We are speaking of the Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi, who owns Mountain Hire Cars Ltd, one of several car rental companies that were contracted by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to provide vehicles.

We are not disputing the need for vehicles to get police into action. Neither are we disputing the right of the Minister to own and operate a business (although there are times when we harken back to the 1970s battle between Sir Michael Somare and Sir Julius Chan over a leadership code proposal to ban ministers owning businesses!).

We are extremely worried however about a government department hiring vehicles from a business owned by their political head.What Mr Rambi did in business before he went into politics is his own business. But from the time he stepped into Parliament as an elected leader, there should have been an inbuilt sense of what is right and proper to kick in.This applies to both ends of the transaction.

The Minister should, in the minds of many, have kept his car hire business away from dealings with thedepartment he has control over. And the department should have known better than to do a deal with their Minister’s business.We seem to recall a senior public servant eventually lost his job after there was a furore about him taking on a family member to work for him, even though the sibling had very good work credentials.

That is, even when the person was well qualified and deserving of the job, it was the appearance that he could have got the job because of who he knew. A similar impression is created here.Although the Mountain Hire Car vehicles are probably very good and adequate for the job, the job involved transporting police officers around . . . and the contract payments going to a company owned by the Minister.

It would be a good example if the Minister stood aside until the authorities check the situation about police hiring of his vehicles and verify that it was all done in a correct and transparent way.


Source: Post Courier editorial

*** Probe Rambi and Baki

I refer to the report “Police Minister grilled over deals” (March 5). The allegations of millions of kina paid to Police Minister Sani Rambi’s rental car company that also involved Police Commissioner Gari Baki is a classic example of gross abuse of power and trust bestowed upon them.

It portrayed poor leadership qualities and hidden motives. Mr Rambi had put himself in a position of conflict of interest. He and Mr Baki owe the RPNGC members and the nation an explanation.

Where is transparency and accountability preached by the National Alliance party before taking office? I call on the authorities to conduct an investigation into both of them.

– David Ulg Ketepa,
Detroit, Michigan, USA