MP wants release of funds

 By MOUA OMOA

GOILALA MP Daniel Mona has called on Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to fast-track the dispatching of district services improvement programme (DSIP) funds to implement projects in the district.

Mona said the finance ministry had issued cheques for the first batch of DSIP funds for this year. 

But the treasury department is yet to release the funds saying the department of implementation and rural development needs to finalise a coding system for the funds.

“I am carrying around K1 million worth of cheques in my briefcase for various service providers which have no value,” he said.

“I need DSIP funding to address law and order, health and education issues in my district.” 

The department of implementation and rural development secretary Paul Sai’i said they had nothing to do with the dispatching of DSIP and public investment programme (PIP) funds to districts and provinces.

“We have nothing to do with the allocating or dispatching of funds to the districts and provinces. That is the work of the departments of finance and treasury.

“There is a big misconception. Controlling the release of DSIP funds is not part of our roles and responsibilities. Our task is to confirm that projects have been completed and are satisfactory in relation to the funds allocated.

“For instance, we go and see whether classrooms or hospitals are built as part of their district development plans,” Sai’i said.

He said the department would conduct workshops this week on the PIP and DSIP guidelines and financial instructions in provinces and districts.