Jeffrey Elapa
ALL decisions, including laws, appointments and contracts by the Madang provincial government over the past 20 years are null and void, the Public Accounts Committee inquiry revealed yesterday.
The inquiry has uncovered irregularities and corrupt dealings of the Madang Development Corporation, the business arm of the provincial government, besides other serious financial discrepancies and illegal transfers and sales of land and properties.
Chairman of the inquiry, John Hickey, said the Auditor-General report of 2011-12 found that appointments of several boards such as that of the Madang Development Corporation and the Madang Cultural Bureau, any laws and legislation passed, appointments made and contracts awarded by the provincial government have never been gazetted as there were no copies of all decisions for the past 20 years.
“I’m told the Madang provincial government has not produced any provincial gazette since 1994,” Hickey said.
“This means any bills and laws passed by the provincial government that has not been gazetted is illegal and unenforceable.
“This puts you in a serious legally sensitive situation that would cost the provincial government millions.
“It is the gazettal that makes it become law and it is lawful to execute and therefore over the past 20 years any decisions are null and void, including the appointments of boards of Madang Development Corporation, other boards and contracts that have been awarded.
“The Madang Cultural Bureau board also is illegal although they claim themselves as a board. Now we direct you to tell them that they are not members of the board,” he told administrator Bernard Lange.
He said there was a recent Lands Board appointed by the provincial government and if there are no gazettal of the appointment, that board is also illegal.
