Govt urged to appoint permanent WPH boss

 THE Government has been urged to fast-track the appointment of a permanent provincial administrator for Western Highlands.

Western Highlands Development Forum chairman Samson Komati said the delay in the appointment of a provincial administrator was affecting development in the province.

“The people and the business community are really concerned,” he said. “There needs to be some form of stability in the public service. That can only be guaranteed when there’s an administrator who is permanently appointed.

“It’s very important that the National Executive Council and the Prime Minister give urgent priority to this matter, in consultation with the Western Highlands governor (Pais Wingti).” Komati said three individuals had been shortlisted for the position –  former provincial affairs secretary Leo Meninga, Pym Mamindi and acting provincial administrator Joseph Neng.

“It’s very important that the Western Highlands public service machinery has to be stable,” he said.

“If everyone is confirmed in their positions, they will seriously focus on their work.

“Right now, they aren’t stable, because they don’t know who’s going to take their positions.

“It’s really killing the morale of the public service and filtering down to village level in terms of service delivery.”