Koensong: Politics affecting admin

By YVONNE HAIP
SOUTHERN Highlands has been feeling the effects of the political turmoil and recent government reshuffles in Waigani, says deputy provincial administrator Dr Bravy Koensong.
He believes that there is a lot of politics being played out in the province and the
people are the ones being affected.
For example, he says, Governor Anderson Agiru and the provincial executive council tried to appoint a new provincial administrator and treasurer last Wednesday.
The PEC members, including the province’s five MPs who are not aligned to the O’Neill-led  government, are “bringing in politics” to the province.
In fact, Nipa Kutubu MP James Lagea was supposed to have been sworn in yesterday as acting governor after Agiru was named the parliamentary leader in the parliamentary faction led by Sir Michael Somare.
Koensong advised the MPs to play “politics” outside the provincial administration – not inside it.
He also warned public servants not to be dragged into the “politics” game during working hours.
He said public servants involved in such activities could face disciplinary action.
Koensong also wants Agiru to clarify which province he would be contesting in during the election this year.
While Koensong hailed Agiru’s leadership at the national level as outstanding and appreciated all he had done for the province in the past 10 years, he reckons it would be better if Agiru contested in Hela.