Funds delay affects work at St John

THE delay in the release of funding from the Health Department to St John (PNG) has affected the organisation’s operations in health, blood transfusion and ambulance services.
According to the Chief Commissioner Douglas Kelson, the department is fully aware of St John’s financial needs to keep the services going, however, it (the department) has yet to release the appropriate funding.
He said their proposed budget for this year was K6 million, however, the department only granted them K3 million which he said was insufficient.
Kelson said the organisation suffered further when the department decided to remove the K1 million from the K3 million and used it to pay staff attached to the NCD health services working under St John.
Kelson was responding to allegations raised by an “insider” in the organisation who claimed that St John was well-funded by the department annually.
The insider raised several allegations questioning the management on the following issues;
* Too many overseas trips by the chief commissioner and others;
* Delay in payment of staff salaries;
* K15,000 monthly rental payments to facility used as the headquarters;
* Monies received for services and first aid courses provided to LNG project areas, corporate houses and government agencies;
* Income tax deduction from staff salaries not reaching IRC; and
* Non-contribution by staff to Nasfund for last five years.
The same statement that contained the allegations was published in the Post-Courier’s view point last Friday which Kelson was not happy about adding that such statements had damaged their reputation.
He said staff members should raise these issues with the management instead of running to the media which would do more harm to their services.