Vanimo to help border

 THE West Sepik provincial administration had to fund police and military operations along the PNG -Indonesian border due to the slow response from the  Government. 

Provincial administrator Henry Norm said because of the complex and sensitive nature of border issues, the provincial administration usually stepped in to fund the operations using mainly provincial services improvement programme (PSIP) funds.

“This is not right as border administration is a  Government function,” he said.

“So we use a substantial amount from the PSIP to fund practical activities of PNGDF soldiers and police operations.

“This is because funds from the Government do not come quickly.

 “And so the provincial government steps in when there is urgency. 

“In terms of border activities, there are a lot of interactions with the Indonesian government along the border to make sure that we are able to build relationships. This is to help us to control complex issues that arise along the border.

“And so a lot of funding from the PSIP goes to border administration.” 

 Norm said that during the leaders’ summit last week in Port Moresby.

He stated that West Sepik wanted to generate its own revenue and not bother the Government for funding. 

“The province generates only three per cent of its revenue internally and the rest of the funding for the PSIP comes from the  Government,” he said.

“So we have come up with a plan to develop Vanimo into a city to tap into the Asian market and generate our own revenue.”