System to make payments

 By MORTIMER YANGHARRY

THE Correctional Services has come up with a programme to resolve the issue of late payments to its service providers.

Speaking at the launching of the Correctional Services financial autonomy to prison in-service delivery roll out programme yesterday in Port Moresby, Commissioner  Martin Balthasar said his department was moving ahead with a solution to problems that affected the enhancement of service delivery mechanisms.

“I thank all my service providers for always bearing with my department regarding service payments of operational costs,” Balthasar said.

“From now onwards, the service providers will directly deal with provincial jail commanders instead of bringing all queries and claims to the headquarters for assessment.”

He made an urgent appeal to provincial administrators and other stakeholders that it was possible and important for them to raise a CFC (cash-fund-certificate) into the existing provincial treasury account when making provincial government commitments to prisons in respective provinces by either the provincial government or other donor agencies.

The launching of the programme will now see the Treasury Department issuing quarterly warrants.

Prison commanders will become autonomous and will implement their own expenditure.

Balthasar said the programme would cost the state K4.8 million.