Opposition Leader condemns PM for continued inaction

Opposition Leader, James Nomane has intensified his campaign against the Minister for Commerce and Industry, Win Daki, labelling his dismissal of serious SME fund misappropriation allegations as a display of arrogance.

Nomane has also condemned Prime Minister James Marape for what he described as continued inaction to this serious issue where SME funds of K200 million have been allegedly misappropriated.

He slammed Minister Win Daki for dismissing a K44 million fraud analysis as false claims, labelling the response as an arrogant display of entitlement.

The Chuave MP urged the minister Daki to follow the example of his colleague and ousted Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph by resigning or stepping aside to allow for a full independent investigation into the alleged misappropriation of SME funds.

“Our SME program meant to lift ordinary citizens out of poverty is being looted before our eyes," Nomane said. “We are derailed by a series of failures, repeated, leadership without discipline, power without accountability.

“Minister Win Daki’s conduct is the clearest symptom of this. A minister entrusted with public money to deliver on policy for national development has shown no empathy, no equity and achieved nil equality.” Opposition leader Nomane said.

The opposition leader further condemned PM Marape for his continued inaction which he describes as caught the attention of many citizens who are deeply disappointed by the failure to address such serious corruption allegations within his government.

“The opposition has done its duty, we exposed it. Now the government must do its duty, investigate fully, act decisively, prove by conduct and not claim that Papua New Guinea is a nation of laws, not a kleptocracy.” Nomane said.

Despite the existence of compelling evidence regarding the missing millions of Kina, Nomane argued that Prime Minister's silence only serves to protect his minister under a political veil.

He emphasised that the Department of Commerce and Industry has fundamentally failed in its mandate to foster resilient private sector and lift ordinary Papua New Guineans out of poverty.

Consequently, the opposition is formally demanding the immediate decommissioning of Daki to ensure that an investigation into the missing funds can proceed without political interference.

Meanwhile, the commerce minister, in his recent media statements has maintained his innocence, describing the online circulation of allegations against him as misleading and politically motivated.