Wingti wields a busy axe

It hasn't been exactly a blood less “coup.”

Democratic, yes. The take over of power by Paias Wingti in Papua New Guinea has been praised as an example of votes, rather than guns, at work which, by the current standards of developing countries, is re markable.

But. once installed as prime minister. Wingti wielded his axe and heads began to roll at an amazing rate.

Anything that was not money-productive has been taking the brunt of the harsh treatment the new leader deems necessary to cure the country of its economic malaise.

First to go were three public service departments and 11 public service chiefs.including the defence force commander.

They departed in surprising si lence. even though a further “major retrenchment” of civil servants was on the way.

Next, government officials were leaking the fact that PNG's seven most senior heads of overseas mission were likely to be sacked the High Commissioners to Australia and New Zealand, and the ambas sadors to Indonesia, the United Nations. Tokyo. London and Brussels.

Prime Minister Wingti said; “The conduct of our foreign relations must accord with the priorities for mobilising re sources for national deve lopment. Diplomacy is a vital tool for securing our interests abroad.”

Also for the chop are state business ventures, with Air Niugini at the top of the list.

“The government is in the process of liquidating its unpro fitable companies and selling off the profitable ones,” said Mr Wingti.

The national flag carrier has been put up for sale in its entirety and the government expects to have the airline off its hands within two years.

The big state sell-off affects 27 companies. In 22 of them the government is the sole shareholder, with investments in excess of Kina2oo million (about Austs29o million).

However, with the continual wielding of the Wingti axe. revolution could not be far away. And.sure enough, by the New Year it had broken out.

The point of explosion; the Harbours Board.

New transport minister.

Neville Bourne and the Board were quickly off on a collision course when he announced an investigation into the purchase and renting of houses for staff.

The minister was extremely concerned, he said, that Kina4 million (about Austss.B million) had been spent in five years on buying property.

Next. Mr Bourne accused the Board of obstructing him in his duty by not supplying informa tion about what the Board was doing. Board chairman, Leo Debess. a was deliberately with holding information about house deals, he charged.

When Mr Debessa refused to meet a deadline to talk, he was sacked along with three other Board members. The four im mediately took the fight to court, but failed to get an immediate injunction to stop the dismissals going ahead.

However, the judge said the case in which the four claimed the dismissals had not followed constitutional proce dures would be heard at a later date.

The war of words hotted up with Mr Debessa accusing the minister of collaborating with shipping operators and a union leader describing Mr Bourne as “fast becoming the Minister for Alice in Wonderland.”

The man Mr Bourne installed in place of Mr Debessa. former Prime Minister’s Department chief, Andrew Yauieb, then sus pended the Harbours Board general manager. Philip Drang, and his deputy, Stanis Tao.

Mr Yauieb said that accor ding to information submitted to the board “there were suggestions of irregularities and a degree of malpractice by executives in particular the two most senior men.” He had asked the fraud squad to in vestigate.

Hardly were the words uttered when Primary Indus tries Minister. lambakey Okuk.

instructed the chairmen and members of three agricultural boards to resign.

Not that there was any suggestion of malpractices at the Copra Marketing Board or the Coffee and Cocoa Industry Boards Mr Okuk just wanted to make his own appointments.

However, not one complied with his instructions. The three boards had conferred together and were seeking legal advice to challenge the order in court.

According to one of the board’s officials, they were prepared to “stand their ground and fight”

The official claimed Mr Okuk wanted to make political

appointments so he could get his hands on the stabilisation funds of the three industries, which total Kina 170 million (about Austs246 million).

There is no doubting “Axe man” Wingti’s integrity and courage, but as a recent local editorial points out, he needs to mind his back.

He is in the process of frustrating a lot of greedy and ambitious people and the slight est indiscretion by one of his team will be seized upon as a chance to upset his whole brave new world. Tim Sinclair in Port Moresby.