O’Neill goes to Manus as part of plan to visit all provinces

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill will fly to Manus today for a two-day visit to the island province.
O’Neill planned to visit all the provinces this year, and would start with Manus.
This is the first time that a prime minister would visit all provinces in a single year.
A media statement said on each visit to the individual provinces, O’Neill would be accompanied by key cabinet ministers.
The prime minister is expected to meet and hold talks with provincial and local government leaders, representatives of business houses and public servants in the province.
“The long-held perception that government is at Waigani and belongs to Waigani must change,” O’Neill said.
“Government is of the people and for the people. It must not only work for the people, but must be seen to be working with them.
“People must be given the opportunity to interact directly with their prime minister and cabinet ministers.
“We must avail ourselves at that level to hear first-hand the people’s views of government policy, their support or criticism of these policies and our development programmes,” O’Neill said.
“Too often, government programmes fail because they are carried out or implemented in isolation.”
During the visit, the prime minister would explain the government’s five-year plan, discuss key government policies with provincial leaders and how the implementation of the 2013 Budget would help achieve targets set by the national government.
With each province receiving a large sum of money annually – K10 million would go to each districts starting this year.
O’Neill is expected to outline and explain the strict guidelines in the use of those funds.
Unlike other provinces, Manus has only one district, and the prime minister is expected to announce a special intervention of K10 million for the people there.
All LLGs will receive K500,000 each this year.