MPs blast Ombudsman chief Richard Pagen

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

MPs blast Ombudsman chief Richard Pagen

PORT MORESBY: Two Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday (Aug 22, 2022) took Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen to task over cases brought against MPs being dismissed.

Madang MP Bryan Kramer and East Sepik Governor Allan Bird question Pagen during an induction programme for newly elected MPs in the just concluded General Election 2022.

The National reported the stand-off in Parliament during induction:

MPs query OC’s role

August 23, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By LULU MAGINDE
TWO Members of Parliament yesterday took a swipe at Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen, questioning why some cases he brought against MPs were dismissed.
Madang MP Bryan Kramer and East Sepik Governor Allan Bird questioned Pagen during an induction programme for new MPs yesterday, about the methods he used, and how he gathered evidence.
“The issue of concern is the number of cases your office has prosecuted and lost, subjecting MPs to long retracted court cases, forgetting about the amount of money, time and heartache that you subject these people to, without any accountability,” Kramer said.
Pagen warned Kramer of “a conflict of interest” relating to his recent referral.
“You will have to respect when I’m talking to leaders here.
“I don’t want to raise arguments here because your tribunal is soon and you should not make comments,” Pagen said.
“We don’t just go after leaders.
“Decisions are carefully thought out and made and evidence along with corroboration of the evidence is made and given.
“I only refer cases on a prima facie basis.”
Kramer was recently referred to a Leadership Triubunal.
Pagen said the Ombudsman Commission (OC) had the power to issue directions.
“As a leader, you are responsible for knowing what is within your bounds, and that you should not be shifting blame onto anyone else,” he said.
Bird said there was a “breakdown of trust” between the OC and the MPs and asked how it could be improved.
“Where are the boundaries in terms of accountability?
“We are supposed to hold each other accountable, but from what I have observed in my five years so far, it seems that there is an absolute lack of trust,” Bird said.
“The OC does not trust MPs and MPs in return are afraid of the OC.”
Pagen said the commission’s role was to make leaders be better leaders. He invited the new MPs to visit the OC office “if ever in doubt”.
“We work with the leaders to provide advice.
“We don’t just go with the cane to whip/punish leaders,” he said.
Raising the issue of the conflict that arose in Wewak during the (GE22), Bird said that if the OC had trusted MPs, as a legitimate arm of government, they would have allowed them access to funds, which were much needed in his province.

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