Call to make policy changes

THIS is my personal view regarding the third tier government in PNG.
Can the Minister for Inter-Government Relations Pila Ninigi make some policy changes to strengthen our third tier level of government in the country so that it becomes efficient, recognisable, and active and function as an established government system.
It is quite too long, the closest people oriented democracy lacks national government support.
People’s right to representation was exercised through election processes and the LLG ward councillors and presidents are the result of that processes and by law, they are legally mandated leaders.
The new government must phase out the DDA system as this seems to be appointed.
The national government should directly fund the LLGs.
Presidents are elected by councillors from wards in which people legally elected them so they have to be given the full powers in any decision makings.
There is no logic at all for the government to establish the DDAs.
No need for us to have DDAs as this body makes provincial and local level system of government malfunction and is a wastage in terms of national government funding support.
District MPs makes up provincial executive council and they are part of provincial forum.
This is where they supposed to be and make decisions to develop their districts.
Their source of funding will be PSIP grants funded through the provincial governors office, internal revenue collection from business houses and so forth.
Let alone the presidents run the affairs of their LLGs.
A provision can be made to ensure they report back to their MPs as those LLGs makes up a district.
In regards to the national government support in terms of funding, DSIP and LLGSIP can be merged to be made more sufficient, efficient and channel it directly to the
LLGs.
Ward councillors can now be full-time beneficiaries to LLG budget so they fulfil their ambitions by fully implementing their ward development plans.
Unlike the current state where DSIP stops from DDA level that many wards can’t see visible basic government services.
To conclude, the government can established a fully equip and functional LLG administration offices in all respective 89 districts.

Hanam Bill Sandu,
LAE