Marape says sorry and confirms funds will be released

FINANCE Minister James Marape says the first lot of this year’s service improvement programme funds will be given to districts and provinces from this week.
Wabag MP Dr Lino Tom queried in Parliament on Tuesday about the need for the Government to provide upfront lump-sum payments of the services improvement programme funds to districts and provinces affected by February’s 7.5 magnitude earthquake instead of the quarterly disbursements.
Tom said that despite a confirmation given by Marape during a special Parliament sitting last month on the release of funds to the Wabag open electorate as one of the districts affected by the disaster, nothing had been given yet.
Marape apologised to Tom, the people of Wabag and MPs, saying the districts that received the
first lot of DSIP funds were Kandep Open and Lagaip-Porgera Open in Enga and districts in Southern Highlands, Hela and Western.
“According to a statement that I made in Parliament last Tuesday regarding the release of DSIP funds to those districts that were affected by the earthquake, I went back and confirmed that his district (Wabag open) was not one of them.
“I sincerely apologise to Parliament, the honourable member and the people of Wabag for this misinformation.
“But we take on board his recommendation and will try to frontload DSIP funds for districts that have been affected by the earthquake.
“But let me make it clear that starting this week and next week, first lot of DSIP and PSIP funds for 2018 will be released to all the districts and provinces,”