Funds develop infrastructure, improve services, says O’Neill

FUNDS allocated to the district and provincial services improvement programmes have developed infrastructure and improved services around the nation, says former prime minister Peter O’Neill.
He was at Kabwum district in Morobe last Saturday to open a new classroom for the Kabwum Secondary School funded by MP Patrick Basa.
O’Neill said the classroom would benefit the children of Kabwum for years to come.
“The opening of this classroom is another example of (district services improvement programme) DSIPs and (provincial support improvement programme) PSIPs delivery to remote and rural districts,” he said.
“DSIPs and PSIPs are being used by MPs to expand schools, dormitories and staff housing.”
His government had introduced the DSIP and PSIP funding for MPs to deliver services to the people.
“While the DSIPs have been slow in coming over the past year, when they are provided, these funds are put to good use,” he said.
O’Neill thanked the people of Australia who paid the last amount of DSIP and PSIP funding though the Australian Government’s Export Finance Agency.
“While the legality of this loan through the EFA was questioned, and was against the advice of the Australian Treasury, it did enable PNG MPs to receive these funds into trust accounts,” he said.
“It now remains to be seen how the government will obtain funds for the next tranche of DSIPs and PSIPs.”