Madang stripped of powers

 By CARMEL PILOTTI

CERTAIN powers will be withdrawn from the Madang provincial administration in efforts to streamline its system and address mismanagement issues, Public Accounts Committee chairman John Hickey says.

He said management of funds would be transferred to the Government although this was a temporary arrangement as a long-term arrangement would affect the people.

Hickey said it was vital that Government departments support provincial administrations in the audit and monitoring of public funds.

He was referring to the Finance and Treasury departments during an inquiry into the Madang provincial government yesterday.

Highlighting failures of the provincial government, Hickey said it was not simply corruption which contributed to the years of mismanagement but some officers were not qualified for the positions they held.

“Provincial administration has been ignored and not supported by Waigani. This is a serious situation,” he said during the inquiry at Parliament House.

Hickey said the Finance Department had not been responsive because they under-estimated the problem.

Deputy Finance Secretary Samuel Penias said the department had sent audit teams to the provinces but the mismanagement of funds should be a matter to be dealt with by the provincial governments.

But Hickey was adamant that there should be more involvement as the Government was providing large sums of money to provincial governments every year.

“We have to help these officers lift their game. It is vital for nation building,” he said.

The committee has referred the Madang provincial government and various departments and agencies for investigation by Task Force Sweep, Public Prosecutor’s Office, Internal Revenue Commission and the Police Department.

“We ask for full cooperation from the administration as this is not a witch-hunt. It is just an inquiry to ensure corrective action is taken,” Hickey said.

Hickey said Northern and Gulf would undergo similar investigations in May.