O’Neill: Set up of authority will bring services

 THE establishment of the District Development Authority would see a much more effective and efficient delivery of services to the people, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says. 

“As a direct response to the cries of our people in the rural areas, our government decided last year to increase funding to local governments, districts and provincial governments,” he said in parliament yesterday when presenting the District Development Authority Bill. 

“In 2013 and 2014 budgets, each district was allocated K10 million and each provincial governments were allocated separate amounts while local level governments (LLG) received K500,000. 

“This Bill will amend the Organic Law on the provincial and local level governments to create district development authorities. This is a significant addition to the decentralised system of government.”

O’Neill said the amendment Bill would replace the Joint District Planning and Budget Priority Committee (JDP&BPC) as a statutory authority. 

He said it would be chaired by an Open MP and would have the same current membership of the JDP&BPC. 

“In due course, in the operational aspect of this, I will bring in an ordinary Act of Parliament that will detail how this authority will function.

“At this stage, it is planned that the district administrator will become the chief executive of the authority and all public servants will come under direct control of the CEO.

“The authority can enter into contracts and it can be sued and can sue. 

“They will be legal owners of all that has been purchased. 

“There will be no more confusions as to who owns all these assets, including equipment bought using DSIP funds.”

O’Neill said money had been paid directly to where it mattered the most; the districts, provinces and LLGs and as a result, real development changes were taking place.