Change of attitude vital to realise Vision 2050

THE PNG 2050 Vision can only work if there is a change of attitude of leaders who are able to comply and effectively manage time, acting secretary to the Prime Minister and NEC Margaret Elias said.
“PNG needs leaders who are honest, innovative, and creative and are able to carry out good governance,” she said at the opening of the first provincial administrators’ conference in Lae yesterday.
Ms Elias said the vision had placed emphasis on the need for a change of attitude among the people to improve service delivery and governance.
“There is a need to devise appropriate strategies to improve the attitudes of current civil servants on time management, accountability, and honesty through job induction and in-service courses like the personal viability training,” she said.
One of the courses she recommended was the personal development curriculum of the Education Department.
She said a culture of excellence within the public sector, based on the core values of quality, productivity, accountability and professionalism would enable the effective implementation of the vision.
“Corruption has been endemic and imbedded in society that has resulted in the diversion of scarce resources required to improve service delivery.
“The gains under the vision would be undermined by the issues of poor governance. Thus, appropriate strategies needed to be developed immediately and given priority.
“The personal viability training provided to all the staff in my department by the Entrepreneurial Development Training Centre Limited has had significant impact in terms of interest and change in officers’ attitudes,” she said.
Ms Elias said the work on anti-corruption had been progressing with the development of a draft strategy currently under circulation for comments by members of the working committee.
A commission of inquiry secretariat has been set up to follow up and implement findings of the previous commission.
Ms Elias has also withdrawn all delegated functions in relation to financial management in the department.
All requisitions are now submitted to her for consideration and approval which she believes will result in cost-savings for expenditure in support of the vision.