NBC Chief Says Things Back to Normal

NBC Chief Says Things Back to Normal

www.postcourier.com.pg/20100413/tuhome.htm

By Mohammad Bashir

PORT MORESBY (PNG Post-Courier/Pacific Media Watch): Papua New Guinea's National Broadcasting Corporation is slowly getting back to normal operations but staff morale is still at its lowest and hopes are high that the government will make a decision quickly to appoint a chief executive officer.

After a two-week tussle for the top post by managing director Joseph Ealadona, whose contract had expired and his deputy Memafu Kapera, the situation has been stabilised with the intervention of the Department of Personnel Management.

Ealadona yesterday said things were back to normal following the DPM’s advice to have him remain until Cabinet makes a new appointment.

“Things are back to normal as per the letter of DPM,” he said when contacted.

The DPM advised that for the sake of stability and to maintain the status quo in NBC, Ealadona must remain in control until the Cabinet makes a new appointment.

Following a Post-Courier report outlining the chaotic tussle for control in NBC, DPM Secretary John Kali wrote a letter to NBC Chairman Paul Reptario stating that due process must be allowed to take its course.

He said Ealadona must be allowed to remain in office, taking advantage of the three-month grace period.

“The NEC is in the process of making an acting appointment and until then, no-one else including Mr Kapera should make claims as managing director of NBC. Note that NEC is the only appointing authority for heads of government agencies, this must be respected,” Kali had stated.

Communications Minister Patrick Tammur has prepared a Cabinet submission for an acting appointment but it is unclear when Cabinet will meet to make a decision.

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