LLGs’ K0.5mil praised

THE government has been applauded for allocating K500,000 to each LLG in the country in the 2013 Budget.
James Asip, a member in the West New Britain provincial assembly and the president of Gasmata LLG, recommended the grants be paid directly to each LLG operating account.
The reason for this, he said, was that previous grants that were meant for LLGs were submitted to provincial governments and only a portion of those grants were paid to LLGs.
Asip also encouraged LLGs to account for all DSIP funds to maintain transparency and accountability in the disbursements of money for projects.
He said most LLG presidents were used as “rubber stamps” in joint district planning and budget priority committee (JDP&BPC) to approve funds that did not really benefit the people in respective LLGs.
He also called on the governor of WNB to work with the O’Neill government to pursue a Commission of Inquiry into the sale of shares of the New Britain Palm Oil that belonged to the people.
“This issue is a very sensitive issue.
“And the people of West New Britain have been waiting far too long to know how and why the shares were sold,” Asip said.
He said the shares were sold by the previous government and it was about time that all the leaders of the province and people in WNB stood together and fought for what was rightfully theirs rather than becoming spectators and slaves on their own land.