ACCESS to basic services for the people of West New Britain’s Kandrian-Gloucester still remains a challenge says local MP Joseph Lelang.
Lelang said due to the remoteness and geographical location of the district, providing basic services of his people has been a struggle over years as much of the district’s services improvement programme (DSIP) funds have been used to improve the local infrastructure.
He made these remarks when presenting his 2024 DSIP acquittals to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) in Port Moresby last Thursday.
“Up to 30 per cent of our funding went to transport and fuel to sustain the operations of the district.
“The remoteness of the district, compounded by the adverse weather conditions, seriously affect the major infrastructure delivery, particularly the construction of roads
“Development challenges have always been there, but with the DSIP funds, we have been able to slowly address these issues that hinder our efforts to bring about services to the people,” Lelang said.
Kandrian-Gloucester’s 2024 DSIP sectoral allocation expenditure acquittal report of K10,990,781.62 was as follows:
- ADMINISTRATION – K960,850. 91;
- HEALTH – K854,978.34;
- EDUCATION – K1,312,737.37;
- LAW and justice – K891, 544.70;
- ECONOMIC – K928,647.57; and,
- INFRASTRUCTURE – K2, 685,751.47.
Lelang said the rollover funds from 2023 into 2024 was K3, 356,271.36.
DIRD acting secretary Aihi Vaki commended the Kandrian-Gloucester administration for submitting their acquittals and added that the department’s officers would provide feedback in due course
Meanwhile, Vaki said only 63 out 118 MPs had submitted their 2024 SIP fund acquittals to DIRD as of last Thursday.
He said more MPs would present theirs in due course, however, the Ombudsman Commission had directed all MPs to submit their 2024 provincial service improvement programme (PSIP) and DSIP funding acquittals by March 31.
PNG Trade Union deputy president Frederick Kebai recently stated the abuse and mismanagement of SIP funds was “a betrayal of the people” after noting recent media reports about the non-submission of acquittals.
“These funds should be building clinics, upgrading rural health posts, supporting schools, and delivering clean water – not lining the pockets of the corrupt.
“We demand stronger oversight and consequences for those who misuse public money,” he said.
