8 Aug 2014

PNG Clerk of Parliament suspended

12:41 pm on 8 August 2014

Papua New Guinea's National Executive Council has suspended the Clerk of Parliament, Vela Konivaro, over serious allegations of financial mismanagement.

The Post Courier reports that highly-placed government sources confirmed the decision to the paper yesterday.

It says the suspension will allow the National Executive Council to look into all the allegations and give the Clerk an opportunity to clear himself.

Specific details of the allegations were not given, but a government official says the decision was made following a request from the speaker of parliament, Theo Zurenuoc.

Mr Zurenuoc says he is yet to receive the official advice of the suspension and therefore cannot comment.

The paper says the Speaker is believed to have been concerned about the engagement of contractors in Parliament and the excessive use of funds over a short period of time.