Audit relief funds: Council

THE Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) Council is calling for accountability from leaders on how last year’s Covid-19 funds for MSME relief was used.
Council president Desmond Yaninen said no report has been given on how those funds had been spent.
“Last year all MPs got paid a total of K211 million to help them alleviate the suffering of MSMEs in their provinces and districts as a result of the Covid-19 in 2020,” Yaninen said.
“District MPs got K2 million each and governors got K1.5 million each.
“They were supposed to present a report to the Finance Department at the end of last year on how they had spent the money to benefit MSME’s.
“So far we have seen nothing.”
He called on the Finance Minister to table a report in Parliament in the next session on how the money was spent.
“We want accountability from our leaders,” Yaninen said.
Finance secretary Dr Ken Ngangan last year said the Government had endorsed an economic stimulus package of K570 million to address the Covid-19 pandemic emergency.
“PNG is in an extraordinary position relative to the rest of the world in containing the pandemic,” Ngangan said.
“The strong policies put in place by the Government means that PNG is not suffering in the same way as almost all other countries around the world.
“The failure to contain Covid-19 is having a devastating impact on their economies.
“The world is facing the worst economic downturn in a century.
“PNG must respond cleverly to the new economic situation,” he said.
“We cannot be complacent. So, despite PNG’s successes, we must also support activities that support growth and jobs.
“Double action good policies and action that would support incomes and jobs even without a Covid-19 pandemic.”