Sidelined MP praises district for putting machinery on hire

 SIDELINED Gumine MP Lucas Dekena has congratulated Gumine district for taking a bold step to hire out its plant and equipment to Kavieng district, New Ireland.

He described the step taken as a bold one to create revenue for the district rather than leaving the machines to sit idle.

Dekena, as chairman of the Gumine joint district planning and budget priorities committee (JDP&BPC), said the decision to hire out the equipment was made by the committee to create revenue was a good move.

The machines were bought by Dekena in his first term as an MP to maintain roads in the district because most roads had deteriorated.

However, these machines were used to maintain the roads under the Gumine works unit.

The unit made some money last year and assisted the district administration with K200,000 to subsidise school fees for Gumine children.

However, Dekena cautioned the provincial administrator Joe Kunda and Gumine district administration to be wary of the deal because proceeds from previous hire of the equipment had not reached them.