Audit plan commendable

Letters

THE assurance given by the East Sepik police boss, Chief Supt Albert Beli to set up an audit team to investigate the use of LLGSIP funds in all LLGs in East Sepik is commendable. Auditing public funds is not to find wrong or to blame those coordinating public monies.
But it is the role of the government to perform check and balance on public money spending.
People deserve to know how much money the government has allocated and how much was spent and on what project and so forth.
Funds should be directed and used according to their intended purpose and not diverted and misused.
I don’t know how people see and scrutinise their LLGs.
I specifically would like to mention Wewak Island local level government (WILLG) in Wewak.
From my general observation, nothing has transpired or built with funds from the local level government services improvement programme in Wewak Island LLG since the inception of this third tier government.
Traversing the breath and width of this island constituency from Biem Island to Tarawai Island, many classrooms, teacher’s houses, church buildings and aid-post have run down and in a deteriorating state.
Some facilities are no longer functional due to non-availability of money and lack of support from our LLG.
In fact, Wewak Island constituency is the least develop area in East Sepik.
Thorough investigation should be carried out to check why development is not reaching the people at the ward level.
Did the responsible heads at the district level honestly distribute the LLGSIP component equally and fairly amongst all LLGs within the district?
Or was adequate funding given but allegedly misused along the way by our president and ward councillors?
It’s a serious and complex issue as we haven’t seen any tangible development or visible project on the ground built by our LLG from this so called LLGSIP component.
Someone needs to be held accountable for this snail phase development frequency.
Many died from curable diseases as a result of no decent health care.
Although Digicel and bmobile have come into existence long ago, there is still no network coverage in that area.
The non-availability of proper and affordable transportation system has forced many to travel by dinghies which is very risky and expensive.
We are yet to see a president commission a LLG funded project.
There is no development legacy or landmark left behind in terms of utilisation of LLGSIP funds by past presidents.
Someone needs to be held accountable as we still remain the same.
Little help came from NGO groups and past serving MPs from their discretionary funds – that’s all.
Wewak Island LLG is yet to deliver a standalone or joint project using the LLGSIP funds.
The call to set up an audit team to look into how public monies were spent is a good initiative.
I will be more than happy to hear the outcome of investigation into the Wewak Island LLG books as the frequency of development in this constituency is very stagnant.
I would like to appeal to our good governor and provincial police commander to publish all findings in the print media for public consumption.

Hanam Bill Sandu,
Wewak Island LLG