Kela-Smith blames workforce

FORMER Eastern Highlands governor Malcolm Kela-Smith says public servants must share the blame for the non-expenditure of project funds in the province.
Kela-Smith particularly singled out the K30 million that was meant to set up the provincial supplies and tenders board (PSTB).
“The ineffectiveness of Eastern Highlands public servants has caused project funds amounting to K30 million to sit idle in the accounts,” he said in Goroka yesterday.
He said another K5 million, earmarked for sealing North Goroka’s China Town road,
could not be implemented because there is no PSTB to award the contract.
Kela-Smith was speaking during the hand­-
over of the governor’s seat to Julie Soso at the University of Goroka.
He presented a detailed situational report to Soso and said he was committed to supporting her where possible.
Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party leader Don Polye commended Kela-Smith for providing a full status report to the new governor and thanked the people of Eastern Highlands for electing Soso.