Kouza slams manner of funds allocation

 By MALUM NALU

LAE MP Loujaya Kouza says the way district funds are being allocated points to a “preferential government”.

She said this yesterday when commenting on the distribution of funds to the Opposition, where she moved to following her sacking from the People’s National Congress.

Yesterday, K2 million of the outstanding K4 million of Lae’s K10 million district funds were transferred, with K2 million outstanding.

None of the health and education component of K5 million had been paid, meaning K7 million of the K15 million for Lae in 2015 was still outstanding.

“I’m still waiting for (all of) my proceeds through DSIP,” Kouza told The National.

“The K2.5 million cheque that I got for health and education bounced. 

“My chief executive officer is trying to find out what’s going on and why that has not been cleared.”

Kouza said it was ironic that while Lae was waiting for full payment of its district money, the Government could cough up money to fund the Lae City Authority through Lord Mayor Koim Trilu Leahy and city manager Roy Kamen.

“I’m waiting for my remaining (DSIP) for this year,” she said.

“If I don’t get it quickly, I know that these guys (Government) are trying to make me suffer so that I don’t complete my development projects and they can go around funding the city manager and Lord Mayor and do whatever in Lae city. 

“I pray that they spend it on the needs of Lae city. 

“Our people of Lae now need to be mindful. 

“Our Opposition used to complain about not receiving their DSIP. 

“While I was in Government, I was thinking this is a government that gives everybody their DSIP. 

“But now, I find on the other side that there is preferential treatment.”

Of funding for LCA, Kouza said:  “I welcome it. 

“If this money is coming from anywhere else or whatever, through the city manager and the Lord Mayor, I pray that they put it into the needs of the people of Lae city. 

“I’m mindful that they’ll step up on that and say that I haven’t done anything for Lae city. 

“The simple answer is because of preferential treatment. 

“My K2.5 million cheque for health and education bounced last week and I’m waiting for K2 million to come down for this year. 

“If I don’t get it, the writing is on the wall. 

“This is a preferential government. Whether we are in Opposition or Government is beside the point. 

“This should be a government for the people.”