By ELIZABETH MIAE
PLANNING for development must start at the district level rather than at the national level, Minister for National Planning and Rural Development Paul Tiensten said during his recent visit to Manus province.
Mr Tiensten, accompanied by his key technical officers, visited the province as part of his plans to visit the country’s underdeveloped districts before the 2008 budget is handed down next month.
Senior public servants including the Manus Governor Michael Sapau acknowledged his visit as the first planning minister to the province.
The purpose of the visit was to get first hand experience of the difficulties faced by the people in terms of infrastructure and service delivery.
Three other provinces – Milne Bay, Sandaun and Enga – will be visited by the minister as well.
In his address, Mr Tiensten urged the provincial government to prioritise projects in the province that would be able to create revenue.
He said the Government spent so much to build infrastructure but failed to sustain them.
He added that infrastructure were in place but there was no cash flow.
Provincial administrator Web Kanawi pointed out some issues that had contributed to the province’s current state in development.
Some of the issues highlighted were:
*The performance index compiled by UNDP between 1980 and 2000 dropped way below national average to third last – Manus stood still while other provinces moved on;
*Cost of fuel is three-four times higher;
*40% of the population live in the outer islands where service delivery is expensive and infrequent;
*High rate of unemployment;
*Provincial and local level governments budgets are the smallest while the province’s problems are the largest;
*Communication difficulties with the outer islands;
*Health and education facilities are deteriorating; and
*Business cost in the province is the highest in PNG.
To address these issues, the provincial government has come up with a 10-year development plan, which is consistent with the Medium Term Development Strategy plan.
Mr Sapau said to achieve the social, economic and moral transformation of Manus society, they would need to formulate good policies and strategies.
Mr Tiensten also visited the Patu Health Centre, Papitalai Secondary School, the proposed fishing project site at Lombrum, Ndraukei, Ndrehet, Lohang logging camp, Tingou Health Centre and the Dihai Bridge.