Push for ties with civil groups, churches

 THE government has to be smarter and be more innovative in its approach, says the Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Charles Abel.

Speaking at the National Civil Society Organisation’s roundtable meeting facilitated by Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) in Port Moresby yesterday, Abel said the partnership with civil society organisations and churches was important as it used its partners’ strength to achieve government policies and plans.

Abel, the chairman of CIMC, said meetings like yesterday’s was not a new thing and it was an on-going dialogue where development partners had come to a roundtable to discuss important issues and improve on service delivery.

He said to improve governance people must follow guiding principles as in cultural, constitutional and traditional beliefs in order to guide the country forward.

“We are not living up to the principles and culturally we are succumbing to western principles which are destroying our wonderful future,”  Abel said.

He thanked CSOs and churches for working closely the government and encouraged closer partnership with them.