Service delivery needs fine tuning

 PARTICIPANTS from the New Guinea Islands economic workshop have agreed that there are systems and processes which need to be properly implemented to deliver services to the people.

The National Economic and Fiscal Commission (Island) regional workshop in Kokopo, which began on Wednesday, was attended by members from East New Bri­tain, New Ireland, Manus and West New Britain. 

NEFC chief executive officer Hohoria Suve said the objective of the workshop was to “fine tune” for greater progress as “there was so much to do”.

“We know the journey we are on is a long one and that a service delivery apparatus starved of funding for many years will take time to regenerate.  

“But as we commit more mo­ney we need to be vigilant, to critically evaluate what is working well and where things need to be adjusted.  

“Let’s also accept our own res­ponsibilities in this process. 

“The ripple effect circles de­monstrate the many actors that must work together to bring about the chan­ges we all want for our country,” he said.

Suve said provinces needed a timely and predictable warrant or cash release schedule from Waigani.

“In 2010, the release of warrants or cash was very late; in 2011 it improved but in 2012, it got worse again.”

He urged everyone to agree and implement a cash release sche­dule that would give provinces the funding they were entitled to in a timely and predictable manner.