The cost of damage to Papua New Guinea's Parliament caused by members of the security forces protesting over unpaid APEC allowances totals more than $US3 million, the Speaker of the House, Job Pomat, says.
Job Pomat. Photo: Facebook / Office of the Speaker
Mr Pomat put the initial estimated damage cost at between $3 million and $4.6 million which he said the government would have to meet.
Meanwhile, the speaker has expressed surprise that no other leader except for Sir Michael Somare has condemned the destruction.
Parliamentary staff have been traumatised by the incident and would be given holidays so repair and maintenance work could be carried out before the House resumes on January 22, Mr Pomat said.
The Post Courier reported the Speaker saying the situation should not be allowed to happen again.
Parliament does not belong to one person but to all the people of PNG, he said.