Gulf public servants still waiting for pay over delayed grants

A DELAY in the release of National Government grants to Gulf has resulted in a chaotic end to 2017, Deputy Governor Charles Maiu says.
Maiu appealed to the Department of Finance to explain the delay in the release of grants to the Gulf government and administration in the last two months of 2017.
He said that the department had given assurance that funds would be remitted on Dec 27 last year but until last week, the grants have not been released as promised.
“We have teachers, health workers and other public servants who were not paid their leave allowances and travel fares,” he said.
“We also have a backlog of claims from service providers that have not yet been paid.”
“The delay has caused a setback to regular operations and has cost the provincial government unwarranted costs to keep officers working during the holiday period.
“As a government, we have an obligation to our people, and to date, majority of our service providers have not been paid.
“As I speak, the provincial administration and treasury offices in Kerema are bombarded by frustrated people who have not been paid.
“These are people and we cannot treat them with contempt.
“We are conscious of security and, therefore, have called the police in from Port Moresby to provide extra security to protect public property.”
Maiu said he had advised provincial administrator Marc Orisuru Avai to close the accounts by the Dec 31, 2017, and all unpaid claims were to be brought forth to this year to await funds to be released in the first quarter under the provincial supply act.
This means that the 2018 Budget will now be congested with additional commitments carried from last year to this year, he said.
Maiu also said the Government had shortchanged the province with K50 million last year.
He said that was something the Gulf government did not want to happen again.