Poke: Expect budget cut in Kokopo

By PAUL SINGE
DESPITE a shortfall of K120,000, Team Eastern Highlands managed to send 525 members to Kokopo for the PNG Games.
Eastern Highlands sports authority director Kevin Poke said the team would experience budget cuts in accommodation, meals and hire car expenses.
He said priority was given to airfares and levy fees for the team members and officials but the shortfall would be shifted to minimise other expenses.
Poke expressed disappointment that members of parliament from the province had failed to provide adequate financial support to the team.
“We are carrying the flag of the province and all MPs should have supported by giving money to the provincial team instead of giving to their respective districts.
“That’s where we are faced with the shortfall,” he said.
Poke said out of eight districts in Eastern Highlands, the Kainantu and Goroka MPs assisted with K10,000 each and Governor Julie Soso provided K400,000.
“We are going as the provincial team, whatever funds should have been given to the provincial team to be taken care of by the provincial sports authority for proper accounting and reporting,” he said.
Poke urged team members to be good ambassadors for the people of Eastern Highlands and avoid trouble as they did not have enough money to cater for unnecessary activities.
“We will give good challenges to NCD, Morobe and Team East and West New Britain,” he said.
Poke said they were expected to win medals in netball, soccer, volleyball and basketball.
Poke thanked Governor Soso, Kainantu MP Johnson Tuke, Goroka MP Bire Kimisopa and Bintangor Trading managing director Simon Sia for their financial support.