Concern raised on funds, reports

By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO
DEPARTMENT of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) secretary Aihi Vaki is concerned that most district services improvement programme (DSIP) funds and district support grant (DSG) acquittal reports submitted to DIRD are incomplete.
Vaki said the reports were not only being accessed by DIRD but by other authorities too.
“We have the Ombudsman Commission, fraud squad and auditors who also access these reports from me and they use constitutional powers which I don’t have,” he said.
“So I want to sound this warning that when you are submitting your reports, ensure that they are up to almost 100 per cent correct and must be certified by the district administrator and the chairman of the (district development authority).”
Vaki said some incomplete reports were returned not because they were rejected but for additional information to be added for the completion of the reports.
He was concerned that most funds allocated to the districts and the provinces were not spent for development.
“Based on the reports that I see, most of the money is going to travel allowances, hire cars and accommodation,” he said.
“These are not developments.
“How can you get the country going forward?”
“As a department that assists 89 districts in the country, the DIRD is working towards developing a database from the acquittals with the help of the Australia High Commission.
“We have reached a stage where the contractor will come in sometime when the funds are released.
“We’d like the government to support us by giving us the money that had been budgeted for this, so we will be able to start this database.”
Vaki said this database was essential in helping the districts to develop.
“Once the acquittals are being processed, they will go into the database.
“We will draw up graphs sector by sector and disseminate them to you all to guide you in your development planning.”