K13mil for resettlement

K13MILLION has been allocated this year for the Manam (Madang) and Kadovar (East Sepik) resettlement work, according to Inter-Government Relations Minister Pila Niningi.
Niningi said he wanted to see 99 per cent of the funds spent on resettlement work at care centres in both areas.
“Last year was a challenging year financially for the national government and that affected the national budget badly for everyone, including funds earmarked for Manam and Kadovar of K20mil each, for the restoration work for which funds were never released in full,” he said last Friday.
“This year, a minimum K8 million for Manam and K5 million for Kadovar resettlement are allocated. I want to see 99 per cent of these funds used on the resettlement work and other priority social services in the care centres in both at Manam and Kadovar.
“This time, my department will administer the funds for accountability and transparency as many a times funds directed to responsible agencies for restoration and resettlement activities did not get properly implemented,”Niningi said.
“My ministry, Manam Restoration Authority (MRA) Board and Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs (DPLGA) will work closely to plan, budget and implement priority activities of the resettlement exercise from this year onwards.”
He said the rightful entity mandated to oversee the operations and activities of resettlement exercise is the MRA with its board under the chairmanship of Ken Fairweather.
Niningi said the Madang government, Bogia district development authority (DDA) and other NGOs would work closely with Fairweather and his board for proper coordination of resettlement activities.
Niningi said Fairweather was still the chairman of MRA.
Niningi, whose ministry is responsible for the restoration authority, said Fairweather did not officially resign from the chairman’s position of the authority.
“My office and the Madang government did not receive his letter of resignation.
“Proper process was not followed in his resignation, as he should have tendered his resignation to my ministry or to the prime minister as the chairman of NEC because he was appointed by NEC.
“This means Fairweather’s position is current. I am calling on Fairweather to rethink his decision as the affected people of Manam are his own people and that he is the only ideal person to lead in the resettlement efforts”, Niningi said.
“As a new minister, I am willing to work with him for the good of our people of Manam.
“Therefore, I call on Fairweather to reconsider his resignation and work closely with my ministry, department and Madang government for the betterment of the volcano-affected people.
“However, if he wishes to resign, he will have to officially tender his resignation to my ministry so that a replacement chairman can be appointed without further delay.
“On Kadovar resettlement efforts, certain governance aspects of the authority need to be fixed and I am calling on the East Sepik government to fast-track the appointment of the nomination of chairman and board members as required by the Restoration Authority Act. The board will then work closely with my ministry and other relevant authorities, including the provincial government on the re-settlement exercise.”