Chimbu people tell acting PM

By ZACHERY PER
THE people of Kundiawa-Gembogl district in Chimbu do not want a by-election following the death of MP Joe Mek Teine with under a year before next year’s general election.
Speaking on behalf of the district, former deputy speaker of parliament Waguo Goiye delivered the message to acting Prime Minister Sam Abal in Kundiawa on Tuesday when Teine’s body was flown into Kundiawa.
He said a by-election would disrupt the implementation of all district services improvement programmes initiated by the late MP and his joint district planning and budget priorities committee (JDP&BPC).
“We do not want a by-election because it is only months away from the 2012 election,” he said.
“We want to see full completion of all DSIP projects that our late MP initiated,” Goiye said.
He said they wanted all pending development projects initiated by Teine to be fully completed before 2012.
He said members of JDP&BPC would ensure public servants in the district implemented the pro-ject plans and initiatives until completion.
Goiye called on the national government to stop DSIP money going directly to MPs.
He said they wanted to see money for developments going directly into project administration.
“Political leaders must be involved in only decision making on uses of the money,” he said.
Goiye, who served the people as their MP from 1977 to 1982, had his call supported by more than 50,000 mourners who came not only from the district, but from the six districts of Chimbu.