Tiensten calls for proper money plan

THE K2.4 billion 2010 development budget, the biggest yet, is still not enough to adequately cater for all of Papua New Guinea’s needs, National Planning and District Services Minister Paul Tiensten said yesterday.
Mr Tiensten said while a budget was passed every year, the demands attached to it were so numerous that by the end of the year, not enough was accomplished.
One reason for that was the absence of an economic model for the country, he said.
“What is needed is a proper financing plan that outlines priority areas so that funding will be directed accordingly.
“Without a proper financing plan, we can not solve anything,” Mr Tiensten said.
He said with such a plan in place, developments from the LNG project and other large scale projects could be locked in and monitored with a record of spending kept.
With the launch yesterday of his department’s corporate plan 2009-11, Mr Tiensten felt things are about to change and criticism that the country could suffer from the “Dutch disease” will be watered down.
“The corporate plan is a guide that will ensure that over the next three years, the department is working towards achieving its policies and objectives.
“The corporate plan is critical in any organisation because it outlines the directions and priorities of the organisation and its management.
“The plan enables the organisation to set its direction and measure its performance and that of its leaders.
“It sets out the basis for staff performance and appraisals and provides the rational for annual national budget allocations. It also provides the basis for reporting,” he said.
National Planning secretary Joseph Lelang said the plan was the department’s blueprint and marked the future strategic direction that the department aspired to move towards.
“Our performance as a department is based on the views and comments we receive from our stakeholders and clients and that is very important,” Mr Leleang said.
The corporate plan is divided into four chapters – the first covers the corporate directives, chapter two the department’s functions, responsibilities, structure and strategic result areas, chapter three covers the risks and challenges of the department and chapter four looks the review process.
Yesterday, the department also launched its pocket-sized work ethics and code of conduct booklet, its housing policy and its 2008 annual report.