Dept urges district heads to make good decisions

HEADS of district development authorities (DDA) have been urged to make good decisions when it comes to maximising the returns of their district services improvement programme funds, says an official.
Department of Implementation and Rural Development (Dird) secretary Aihi Vaki said more money had been given to Papua New Guinea’s districts over the past five years but a lack of leadership has resulted in funds not being effectively used.
“The money that the government give is K10 million across the board in 89 districts and 22 provinces,” he said.
“That money can make a lot of difference in the districts, it can change the face of the district.
“It is important that leaders take charge making the right decisions that can deliver impact projects across the country.
“Over the last five years, the Government has released billions. You can multiply K10 million times 111 MPs – 89 district and 22 provinces.”
Vaki said that amount of funding at the sub-national was enough to bring major benefits to the districts.
He said DDAs needed to be decisive and implement projects and not let administrative matters such as making resolutions, meetings and other related decisions hinder them.
“Districts have a five-year development plan they need to stick to and implement.”
Vaki said DDAs also needed to have just four meetings.
“The Organic Law talks about four meetings in a year,” he said.
“If you go beyond, you need to seek advice otherwise you’ll be seen as a district that is unorganised and making decisions after decisions and superseding those decisions and not implementing anything good at all.”