By SEPKOLIN WALNE
The Parliamentary Public Accounts Commission (PAC) hearing into the implementation of the Connect PNG Program has revealed that there is no trust account for this multi-billion-kina nationwide roads program.
Works and Highways Secretary Gibson Holemba told the PAC that the Connect PNG Board had not established trust account facility.
“By the technicality of the law, the budgetary process allocates to Department of Works under agencies code 264, which departmental heads oversights.
“There’s no funding in there where the board can make a decision unless we establish the trust account, and we direct the Connect PNG money into the trust account, then the board makes a decision,” Mr Holemba said.
PAC member and Kiriwina-Goodenough MP Douglas Tomuriesa questioned the delay in establishing the trust fund.
“Parliament has passed that legislation in 2021. Why did you gentlemen not establish that fund?
“The Connect PNG very clearly stipulated in the Act of 2021 that the trust account must be established.
“You can not be operating outside of the trust account,” Mr Tomuriesa said.