16 Jan 2015

PNG Power names prominent defaulters

11:08 am on 16 January 2015

Papua New Guinea's electricity provider has published a list of those who have defaulted on their bills in the country's newspapers, which includes the minister responsible for declaring a State of Emergency.

Last week, the Public Enterprises Minister, Ben Micah, declared the 60-day emergency to collect some of the nearly 50 million US dollars owed to PNG Power Limited, which could include deploying the army to collect money.

However, the list published in yesterday's Post Courier shows Mr Micah himself to be a defaulter in Port Moresby.

A spokesperson for Mr Micah says he has tasked officers to check with PNG Power to see if he does have any bills outstanding.

Also on the list is the opposition leader Don Polye, the Chief Justice Salamo Injia, and prominent lawyer Paul Paraka.

The Bank of PNG, ANZ, Westpac, the US embassy, the Malaysian High Commission, SP Breweries, Air Niugini and telecommunications provider Digicel are also listed.

The bulk of the money owed is by government departments and statutory bodies.

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