14 Feb 2011

Call for PNG environment minster to investigate alleged misspending

1:34 pm on 14 February 2011

The NGO, Act Now, is calling for Papua New Guinea's environment and conservation minister, Benny Allen, to investigate alleged financial mismanagement and abuse of donor funds in his department.

The alleged findings of an audit by the accounting firm Deloitte have been published on the internet but the PNG managing partner, Paul Barber, wouldn't comment on them, citing confidentiality.

A spokesperson for Act Now, Effrey Dademo, says nobody knew about the audit report until it was published on the internet.

"We're calling on the minister to actually look in to see if there's any truth in this because obviously Deloittes is a reputable organisation, [an] audit firm that has made certain recommendations and it relates to donor funds especially."

Act Now's Effrey Dademo.

PNG's environment and conservation minister was unavailable for comment.