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Don Tolia is still the supervising director of mines.
That’s according to acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Energy Jeffrey Kauha.
He was responding to reports that Tolia has been sacked.
Reports suggest Tolia was removed to give way for suspended director Peter Auga, who has been reinstated after successfully appealing his case.
But Kauha said at this stage, Tolia remains the supervising director and consultant to the ministry.
The acting permanent secretary said the misunderstanding comes about when he received a letter from the supervising permanent secretary for Public Service.
“I received a letter on Thursday dated 22ndof September from the supervising permanent secretary for public service to reinstate the suspended director, Peter Auga,” Kauha said.
He said this reinstatement is yet to be clarified with the Public Service, thus he is not in a position to make it formal.
“I need to get back to the public service, get clarification and liase with them on this reinstatement before making any formal approval,” he said.
He said allegations levelled atAuga are serious in nature and that is the reason he would like to get clarification first.
“The allegations are breach of financial act and standing orders to misappropriation of royalty payments,” Kauha said.
He said the understanding is that the individual should have responded to the Public Service, at a given period.
“This current approach is only at the administrative level. I’m not sure about the police investigation into this matter.
Tolia could not be reached for comments.
BY BRADFORD THEONOMI
