Games need action now

WITH little more than three and a half years (45 months give or take) to go before the 2015 Pacific Games, the PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Committee are already behind the eight ball with nary a task commenced in preparation.
All planning and scheduling and related programmes have not progressed beyond the boardroom. But this is not a poor reflection on their part by any means because the problem is simply one of funding.
In September’s supplementary budget, the government allocated K20 million to get the proverbial ball rolling. This was the first meaningful sum proffered by the state since it endorsed PNG’s bid to host the event which they won it in 2009.
The PNGSFOC, and specifically the Pacific Games Council, are not to blame here; rather the issue seems to be one of bureaucracy and parliamentary procedure.
In a media statement on Nov 3, Sports Minister Sali Subam acknowledged the slowness in kick-starting preparations for 2015 but laid most of the blame at the  doorstep of the previous government. “The former government’s lack of urgency to ensure the necessary legislation was in place and (the bodies) equipped with funding to start preparations for the 2015 Pacific Games. The Pacific Games Authority Act was only passed in September,” Subam stated.
Furthermore, he felt obliged to explain the process. “To formalise all the committees of the authority, a certified copy of the approved act was required. This document was made available to the two leading sports organisations, the PNG Sports Foundation and the PNGSFOC, only on Oct 28.”
The legislation has to be gazetted to complete the certification and commencement process. This process has to be completed to formalise the appointment of the members on the 2015 Pacific Games Authority, which is the body under the PNGSFOC that is responsible for planning and running the Games. So, what we can deduce from this is the former government had in effect dithered on the required legislation and not acted with haste to give organisers ample time to have Port Moresby prepared in terms of facilities and other standards for the region’s largest sporting event.
Subam also said a policy submission had been drafted for approval by the National Executive Council to appoint the crucial venue, infrastructure and equipment committee (VIEC) as per the act.
This committee, which has been existing as an interim committee since last February, comprises relevant organisations including the city’s municipal authority NCDC, architects and builders. Coincidentally, during that week, NCD Governor Powes Parkop had publicly called for a quickening of the processes and legislative requirements needed to have his city prepared in time. What he should have pinpointed was the failure by the government to release the funding promised. He obviously does not want Port Moresby’s and PNG’s reputation to be tarnished by the failure to have the city ready for the Games.
Also, on Nov 3, a press statement was issued by the office of the prime minister on the same matter but with a slightly different angle. The PM’s statement assured the country that the government was fully committed to hosting the 2015 Pacific Games but admitted work on constructing and upgrading facilities which will require the most expenditure had actually been done much less started. However, the statement also hinted that a lack of direction by sports planners had contributed to the slowing down of the preparatory process.
“Two years have passed no clear direction was established for getting physical work done on this important initiative. Although the 2015 Games Authority has been established, it is evident that the national government needs to not only coordinate the activities of the PNGSFOC and Sports Foundation but also come up with clear action plans and milestones for the construction of new facilities as well as the refurbishment of existing facilities that will be utilised in 2015.”
While red tape has mired the commencement of work the undeniable fact remains: the money needed to actually begin work has not been released.
Once that happens you can be sure that bodies such as the Pacific Games Authority and its various committees will start changing the face of the nation’s capital be ready to host the single biggest event staged since 1991.