Kikala working hard to deliver

Recently, there has been a wave of letters to the editor by individuals, or it could probably be the same person hiding under different pen names, complaining about the slow implementation of projects in the Lagaip-Porgera electorate.
I would like to inform the writer(s) that MP Philip Kikala did not win the Lagaip-Porgera seat by writing letters to the editor in the daily newspapers.
He was given the mandate for five years by the grassroots to lead them under an accepted legal electoral process, and as such, only the grassroots will determine his fate when his term lapses.
He is under no pressure to deliver half-baked services just to impress insignificant individuals.
The media is not an appropriate avenue for debating electoral issues.
However, if these writers and critics want to know the truth behind the delay in service delivery, they should advise their governor and other small-time council presidents to restrain themselves from going to the courts to freeze the release of district funds.
When the unnecessary court battles stop, only then will the funds be available and released for service delivery.
Since Independence, everyone has seen the service delivery mechanism at the district level deteriorated from bad to worse in nearly all the sectors.
If past leaders had lived up to their obligations and responsibilities, the situation on the ground would have been a breeze for these writers and critics.
As it is, Mr Kikala has inherited all the problems which have snowballed and he cannot be blamed for everything that had gone wrong.
Despite his past records of being a senior bureaucrat in the country, Mr Kikala is a first-time politician and, therefore, one cannot expect him to restore every service and be a solution to every problem overnight.
Under his current term, he is attempting to carefully and successfully mend the failures by his predecessors, thereby, laying the foundations to pave way for a better and brighter future for the electorate.
In the immediate term, he may not please every individual and “haus line”, but in the long run, the grassroots will not regret having given him their mandate when they realise and understand what Mr Kikala has lived up to their expectation.
Presently, there are many pressing issues affecting the electorate.
Some underlying factors giving raise to the issues include poor cash economy, increased school dropout rate, rapid population growth, abuse of liquor and drugs, rise in prostitution, night clubs and HIV/AIDS, deteriorating Government service and the list goes on.
Further compounding the issue is the lack of capacity in the district and the limited funds on hand to adequately address the issues highlighted.
The Member is mindful of the challenges that lies ahead and does not need to be reminded through the media to pull his socks up.
As a matter of fact, he has not gone into hiding but is slowly but surely working around the clock to ensure that we accomplish our priority projects according to the five-year district plan launched in September last year.
We invite our critics to share their grand ideas with us at our office in Parliament so that we can all work together and put in place a sound development plan for the electorate.
Isn’t this a more appropriate and transparent way to show that everyone is working for the betterment of the electorate?

Samuel Tulipet
First secretary
Office of Vice-Minister for National Planning District Services
Port Moresby