Dept continues to face funding, manpower shortages

THE Department of Communication and Information Technology continues to face funding and manpower issues to carry out its responsibility for the information and communication technology sector, an official says.
Department Secretary Paulus Korni said there were challenges in the department itself.
“It is a big challenge. ICT is growing. ICT is evolving. ICT is a growing industry in the world and we are part of it,” Korni said.
“PNG has got to appreciate that we must ride on the services of ICT and emails and other aspects of ICT. In that respect, we have a lot to do so we can progress policy that is conducive for PNG.”
He said the department was important but was under-resourced and under-staffed.
“We have less than 30 staff in the department. We are not able to recruit because of the freeze in the public service. For staff who have left, their positions have not been filled.”
Korni had a briefing with new Minister for Communication and Information Technology Francis Maneke.
Meneke told the secretary and department staff that he would work with them and other agencies in the ministry to make policies and decisions which would drive the sector forward.