Nape slams governor

By VERONICA FRANCIS
SPEAKER Jeffery Nape, who is Sinasina-Yongomugl MP, has expressed anger at Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia for questioning his use of rehabilitation of education sector improvement funds.
Garia claimed Nape used money earmarked for teaching aids and renovation of school buildings to buy motor vehicles instead.
However, Nape hit back on Monday, saying leaders should talk to each other to address development issues in the province rather than go to the media.
He said his joint district planning and budget priorities committee had approved K500,000 for the purchase of the school vehicles Muaina High School, adding that funds were also allocated for school books which were being delivered by the supplier.
Nape said transport was a key component of any service delivery, therefore, the Sinasina-Yongomugl JDPBPC opted to buy the vehicles instead of hiring them on ad hoc basis which would be costly.
“If the governor has some problems with my leadership, he should speak to me so we can all work together to develop our province,” he said.
He added that leaders of respective electorates were elected by the people just like the governor.
“As such, our decisions are based on people’s needs, if the governor thinks otherwise, then he is occupying the wrong office, he should think like a politician.”
Nape said the JDPBPC had also allocated funding for maintenance where by all materials would be bought, adding the new vehicles would transport these materials to the respective schools and upon completion of maintenance works the vehicle would be used for school administration by the schools.
However, Garia told The National that Nape and his officers should visit the schools first before buying these vehicles and materials.
“Do the schools really need vehicles, materials or maintenance? Have they done a feasibility study to find out?” he said.
Garia said even after the schools get the vehicles for administration purposes, they would be costly to maintain and run, adding most primary schools did not have a budget for such expenses. 
He said he was not against Nape’s leadership and only wanted things to be done right for the purpose of development.