Thorough check on Usino-Bundi funding

THE plight of an old asthmatic mother from Bundi, Madang, being transported on a stretcher to Brahman Rural Health Clinic in The National has prompted me to air my concerns regarding accountability and transparency in managing public funds.
Accessibility to good roads and other rural amenities are not be an option for everyone living in our rural communities, including Bundi LLG. Because, the amount of funding given to each district has surpassed K20 million.
Why should anyone be complaining and crying out for better service delivery when the district coffers are filthy rich with so much money? Where are the DSIP and LLGSIP allocations and, for Bundi, the mining royalty from the Ramu Nickel project?
The failure by Government authorities including the Usino Bundi District Development Authority and the Bundi Local Level Government must be held responsible for the appalling road conditions in the district.
It is their duty to ensure infrastructure and other social amenities such as electricity, water supply, medicinal supplies, and economic opportunities are readily available for the rural populace.
But, sadly, this is not happening. And we are questioning the whereabouts of this much-talked-about millions of Kina injected into the district coffers year in year out.
It is time a thorough investigation is conducted into the affairs of the Bundi LLG and the Usino Bundi District Development Authority to ascertain the usage and spending of these monies. This is the people’s monies and they have every right to know how their monies are spent.
The people have a right to demand for accountability and transparency from public officials and elected MPs.
Every right-thinking citizen should rise up and hold their Government to account for all social ills and injustices facing them, and this includes citizens of Usino Bundi district.
Time to raise the people’s voice because no one is above scrutiny.

John Mangua Yoga
Goroka