Sai’i: K1.9b given to 89 districts in six years

 MORE than K1.9 billion was allocated to the 89 district between 2007 and 2012 under the district services improvement programme, according to a government official.

Acting Secretary of the Department of Implementation and Rural Development Paul Sai’i highlighted this during the opening of the provincial, district and local level government services improvement programme workshop for Chimbu and Jiwaka in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, on Tuesday.

He said the national executive council supported the implementation of the programme.

He said the services improvement programmes for provinces, districts and local level governments cost the government K1.6 billion this year.

“Many district officials abused the processes and procedures under previous administrative guidelines and financial instructions.”

He said to avoid this, they re-instituted provisions in the guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement of these funds.

Sai’i said the grants were allocated under the government’s development budget forming 

an integral part of its medium-term development programme and public investment programme.

The theme of the two-day workshop was “Year of implementation with focus on effective and efficient implementation of services improvement programme in rural areas and urban centres in Papua New Guinea”.