24 May 2013

PNG Prime Minister accused of stalling appointment of new ombudsman

6:39 am on 24 May 2013

The deputy leader of Papua New Guinea's opposition has accused the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill of purposely dragging the chain on the appointment of a Chief Ombudsman.

There have been two acting heads since the former Chief Ombudsman, Chronox Manek, became ill and passed away in October.

In that time, the Ombudsman Commission has not been operating at full capacity.

Sam Basil says villagers in Lae recently launched an Ombudsman complaint against the appointment of one of the Prime Minister's relatives, Nathaniel Poya, as chairman of PNG's Ports Corporation.

Mr Basil says that as chairman of the body which appoints the Ombudsman, Mr O'Neill has a lot to answer for.

"There is no ombudsman commissioner to look into the case. And the people are complaining about the chairman of the appointments committee of the Ombudsman Commisioner so where do we get the justice from here now when the Prime Minister is purposely putting his foot down and holding back the appointment of the Ombudsman Commission."

Sam Basil.