Govt urged to work with churches to deliver services

National, Normal

THE National Government has been challenged to fund and work closely with churches in the delivery of basic services to people as its own public service machinery is not functioning to expectations.
Currently, the Government is not doing enough to either involve or support the work of churches, which are doing their best to deliver basic services to the bulk of the rural people in terms of public service.
Catholic diocese of Wewak business manager, Cyril Kondang, said this when supporting comments by acting Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenouc, who described public servants as chickens who run around not knowing exactly what to do.
Mr Zurenouc expressed grave concern over the lack of implementation of Government policy and performance by public servants when it comes to delivering service to the people.
In the education sector in East Sepik alone, 107 primary schools, two high and two secondary schools, two vocational and technical schools and one FODE study centre are now partnering the National Government in building a community college at Marienberg at a cost of about K10 million.
It has a staff strength of 673 teachers who are teaching a total of 20,200 East Sepik students.
The Catholic church can also boast of the same for health services in East Sepik after settling there some 100 years ago and have contributed immensely to the growth and human resource development of East Sepik long before Independence.
A former senior public servant, Mr Kondang said in a statement that these were critical comments and suggestions which the Government might take note of and included in its initiatives to improve its system of service delivery.
“Firstly, our public service is the major blockage of services going to the people.
“They do not care; they are only interested in their pay packets and are out of touch with the real situations in the rural PNG,” he said.