Concerned Officer

The Secretary for Commerce and Industry, Steven Mera, should be commended for putting his re­putation on the line to call for a full financial audit of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone project from 2008 to 2011.


This period effectively covers the administration of former secretary Anton Kulit and acting secretary John Andrias.
 We know very well that this project was politically hijacked by a former minister.


The audit will reveal the number of unproductive overseas travels they took and how much consultancy money was paid out in providing various services in the name of advancing the project. 
It should also reveal some non-performing con­tracts.


Now that the situation has changed, everyone is fighting for survival, so to speak.


We welcome this audit and want the findings to be made public as soon as possible.
In view of the opposition by the Madang lagoon people, the project should be shelved by the government.