Budget to focus on election, Apec

CHIEF Secretary Isaac Lupari says the next year’s budget will be focused on the general election and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in 2018.
He told heads of department at a meeting in Port Moresby on Friday that there would not be any new projects or programmes in the budget.
Lupari urged them to discuss this with their ministers before they “ask for a budget”.
“Don’t expect new increases in the 2017 budget. Discuss with your ministers before you ask for a budget. I don’t want you to be disappointed when you ask for K20 million and you get K2 million. So let’s be realistic.
“2017 is going to be difficult. The focus of the Government is going to be the general election and Apec, and continue with ongoing projects,” Lupari said.
“There won’t be any new projects, programmes.”
Lupari advised the department heads to prepare ministerial statements for their ministers. Today is the deadline to prepare those statements as parliament sits tomorrow.
“Parliament is coming up in August. We need ministerial statements. You should prepare ministerial statements about achievements, progress, challenges.”