![]() A DISGRUNTLED group of service providers fronted up at the Education Department recently demanding the secretary explain why their outstanding payments have been delayed for 14 years. More than 100 contractors demanded Dr Uke Kombra explain the delay to settle payments for service provided to the department in 2007 and 2008 under the Rehabilitation Education Sector Infrastructure (Resi) programme. Dr Kombra said the case was still in court and nothing much could be done about it. He said there were three groups of contractors that were lodging claims against the State, one being the Resi contractors. Another was from Hohola and the third one from the National Capital District. “They have been lodging claims against the State for some work they did, it’s gone up to K600 million in claims. We found that the claims is worth K600 million but the amount of work they did is not sufficient,” Dr Kombra said.
“We did a submission to NEC (National Executive Council) to pay them but NEC twice said that they cannot be paid. “They said their claims should be dealt with between the Education Department and Justice Department, so that’s the process that we are going through. “We have told all the contractors that it’s very difficult, many of you have lodged false claims so we said the best thing is we have taken a public advertisement, we said we go to court, you provide all your evidence to the court and the court will give an order to the Education Department and Justice Department. “They will use that order and go to the Government – State – and ask for the money to be given and then we will give it to you.” Dr Kombra said right now it was “very difficult” because there were so many false claims and also so many genuine claims that it’s hard to separate the sheep from the goat”. “Many contactors have taken this matter to court and the process is still going on,” he said. However, chairman of Resi contractors Jeremiah Ninkama told The National that it was taking too long for the department of pay the contractors. He said all the audits were done and the genuine contractors should be paid. Ninkama said they had received instructions from the Chief Secretary Ivan Pomaleu directing Dr Kombra to immediately organise a meeting to ask the aggrieved contractors and resolve this matter and report back to him and the Prime Minister. Ninkama said the secretary is defying instructions from the prime minister and the chief secretary. Source : The National / PNG Education News next : Teacher: Girls Learn More About Menstruation In School Comments are closed.
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