Maserati cars ‘expensive mistake’

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Maserati cars ‘expensive mistake’

PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea (PNG) Finance Minister Sir John Pundari says it was an “expensive mistake” to buy 40 of the Italian-made Maserati cars for the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit here.

“We all appreciate and understand that we have no Maserati dealers in PNG. If we had any forsight, they would not have been purchased in the first place.

“We made a terrible mistake,” he added.

The issue was reported by The National:

Cars ‘expensive mistake’

October 1, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
FINANCE Minister Sir John Pundari says it was an “expensive mistake” to buy 40 of the Italian-made Maserati cars for the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby.
“We all appreciate and understand that we have no Maserati dealers in PNG,” he said.
“If we had any foresight, they would not have been purchased in the first place. We made a terrible mistake.
“I just don’t know why we (did it) and now we are caught up in this dilemma.
“Public expenditure has gone into (these) very expensive vehicles.”
He told The National that the vehicles would be sent to PNG’s 33 foreign missions around the world for their use.
Finance secretary Dr Ken Ngangan said that the cost of a Maserati was now around K400,000.
Only two of the lot bought in 2018 had been sold so far through public tender.
“Offers have been made for the others, and offers from foreign missions are still coming in.
“It will depend on the Kina or the dollars to purchase the Maserati and then we will dispose of them,” he said. Sir John said the National Executive Council (NEC) had decided to make the vehicles available to the foreign missions.
“The maintenance of the Maseratis would be (the responsibility of the) foreign missions.
“They are deciding whether they take them or not.”
He said there were Maserati dealers in some countries where they could be serviced and maintained.

7 days given to return over 100 Apec vehicles

October 1, 2021The NationalMain Stories

POLICE have issued a seven-day ultimatum for the return of more than 100 vehicles used during the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Summit which are currently with “unauthorised persons”.
Commissioner David Manning yesterday warned the “unauthorised persons” to return the Government assets.
“If the 102 vehicles are not returned, those found with the vehicles will be criminally charged,” he said.
“We are aware that several of the vehicles have been taken out of the (National Capital District) and we know who has the vehicles.
“We are closing in on each and every one of you.”
Comm Manning said the constabulary was supporting efforts by the Finance Department to comply with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act and other relevant laws.
“(We will) ensure that the assets purchased by the State are disposed of or allocated, consistent with the laws,” he said.
“The constabulary has been party to a number of recoveries in the past and we will continue to be a partner in this recovery process.
“We have committed to return all Apec vehicles by next Tuesday.”
Finance Minister Sir John Pundari said the department had requested the police, Road Traffic Authority and the Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd to recover the missing Apec vehicles.
NCD Police Superintendent Administration Chris Tamari who heads the recovery task force team said those who failed to return the vehicles would be taken to court.
“They will also be charged with misappropriating state property.
“We will not hesitate to charge anyone, and we are serious.”

492 vehicles bought for Apec summit, says official

October 1, 2021The NationalNational

Finance secretary Dr Ken Ngangan (left), Finance Minister Sir John Pundari and Police Commissioner David Manning in Port Moresby yesterday. – Nationalpic by MIRIAM ZARRIGA

THERE were 492 vehicles bought and used for the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby, says secretary for Finance Dr Ken Ngangan.
Of the 492, 166 were donated and 326 bought by the Government.
Of the 326, 119 were “low-end state purchased vehicles which have been distributed to various government departments, district and provincial governments and state-owned enterprises for administrative purposes”.
And of the remaining 207, 102 have not been returned.
The rest are being disposed of by the Finance Department through public tender.
He said the 166 donated vehicles had been given to non-government organisations, churches and charitable organisations.
“Fire trucks, ambulances and buses are being used,” Ngangan said.
“We are looking for those (102 unreturned) vehicles,” he said.
“Some of them are now with agencies and individuals who have been advised to bring them back for disposal.
“For example, 15 vehicles are now used on Covid-19 operations by the Health Department, Police and Defence Force on a temporary basis.”