Duma urges entities to deliver promised results on time

STATE-owned entities (SOEs) have been given 11 months to deliver on the promises contained in their annual operation plans.
State Enterprises Minister William Duma, who addressed the heads of SOEs and board of directors on Thursday, gave the SOEs 11 months to perform and produce results.
“For the next 11 months I will be breathing down your throats to ensure you produce results,” Duma said.
“I’m sorry but you will be hearing and seeing a lot from me because I have the obligation to work with you to help turn around those companies.”
Duma said the situation on their performances had not changed since 2019.
“When I last spoke during a similar gathering in January, 2019 I pointed out that there were a number of things that needed to be done quickly and one of those was the war against wastage.
“From what I have seen and having being briefed by the managing director of Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) Isikeli Taureka, the situation hasn’t changed.
“One can attribute some of those things to the Covid-19 impact but if you go back to 2018 and 2019, it’s not a good story that we all can be proud of.
“All of us here owe this country for our children and grandchildren.
“We have a moral and legal obligation to do what is right and necessary for our future.”
Duma said it was incumbent on all the SOEs to deliver on the expectations of 2021.
“We are looking at quality, safe and accessible drinking water, affordable communication services, reliable electricity services, affordable and reliable transport services and efficient port services and finally a return on the investment.
“Our people expect the best from us and we have a lot to catch up on.”
Duma said a lot of projects needed to be completed, including the merger of Eda Ranu and Water PNG, rehabilitation of telecommunication assets, merger of bemobile and Telikom and restructure of plans.
“If we want to turn the companies around in the next 12 months, we need to do things a little bit different.
“I see very smart people here, all we need to do is readjust ourselves and our plans.”