Official: Poll disputes delay progress

MANUS is slow in progressing with developments due to disputed election returns, deputy administrator Paso Pohei said yesterday.
He said the provincial administration had not implemented its development strategies this year because of the court case.
Former governor Michael Sapau filed a petition in the national court disputing Governor Charlie Benjamin’s win in last year’s national election.
Sapau’s petition was dismissed early this month.
Pohei said now that the case was over, the provincial administration would work with the governor’s office to implement their budget and development plans for 2013.
He could not say whether the Manus district had received its district services improvement programme (DSIP) funds for this year.
Manus is the smallest province in the country, both in land area and population.
The coastal areas – Lauis, Warei, Malai, Uganda, Kauwa and Drangau – are yet to see government services.
People in the province have been suffering from poor road networks, high cost of living, and inadequate education and health services for years.
Many people in the province travel four to eight hours a day to reach minor and major services in the main town.