Govt hails churches’ role in development

THE government acknowledges the big role played by the churches in national development, especially in providing basic services to people in remote areas.
Community Development and Religion Secretary Anna Solomon told the churches at state partnership programme transitional workshop in Port Moresby that an Office of Religion was set up last year to inform the parliament of the great work carried out by the churches.
Solomon said the office ensured that proper and effective database of all churches in the country was collated.
“These would be done to identify the type of activities or programmes they were doing so that the government can liaise with them and reach the people through service delivery,” she said.
Solomon urged church leaders and representatives attending the workshop to discuss not only the key areas of health and education which come under the church-state partnership programme but also areas where the government could partner with the churches to serve the people.
PNG Council of Churches acting general-secretary Aisu Aluvule said one of the areas they would look into was how to implement the roll-out of provincial churches.
Aluvule thanked the department and the government for recognising the work of churches.