Dion urges firm to manage K2mil to empower people

 DEPUTY Prime Minister and regional member for East New Britain Leo Dion has called on the management of the Rabaul Mataure Micro-Finance to ensure funding given by the government is managed properly and applied to achieve economic empowerment of the people.

Dion said this when he presented K2 million to Rabaul MP Dr Allan Marat and chairman of the board of directors of Rabaul Mataure Micro-Finance Prof David Kavanamur in Port Moresby last week.

He said the money was part of the K20 million provincial services improvement programme appropriated in the provincial budget for 2013. 

“All funding will be channelled to the normal government process through the province. 

“As long as I am the deputy prime minister, I will ensure all funding from the national government in support of development in the province are properly sanctioned by the provincial executive council and provincial administration before they are submitted to the NEC for approval,” he said.

Dion said he would not allocate funds directly to projects without the knowledge of the governor and the provincial administration.

Marat commended Dion for fulfilling his commitment in supporting economic empowerment of the people through the injection of the K2 million to the Rabaul Mataure Micro-Finance.

He also called for cooperation among the province’s MPs, saying it must be based on good spirit and not ulterior motives.

The short presentation was also witnessed by Governor Ereman ToBaining Jnr and acting provincial administrator Wilson Matava.