Yama calls on MPs to use funds to keep district stations clean

MADANG Governor Peter Yama says districts should use some of their allocated district service improvement programme (DSIP) funds to clean the bushes in their own stations which will cost less than K1000.
He said this following a recent visit by Minister for Planning and Implementation Richard Maru to Middle Ramu and Raicoast where stations were covered in tall grass.
“Provincial government is looking at the big issues like housing for public servants, electrification programme, water systems, schools, roads and those big projects,” Yama said at a media conference in Port Moresby.
He said the cleaning of the stations were not the provincial government’s job.
“It is not a governor’s job to go in each districts and cut the grass at district stations.
“You have enough money under DSIP. There is K10 million there. It is a lot of money. Why not use K500 or K1000 to cut the grass to maintain the station in good condition. That is the responsibility of the MP to take care of.”
He said those MPs who were not doing such little things were only planning to fail their own districts.
He urged the MPs to work together as a team and resolve a lot of problems.
Yama thanked Maru for visiting the remote district’s headquarters in Aiome.
“No ministers come and see for themselves such remote place,” he said.
“This could be the first time for the chief architect and very important strategic planner for the country to come that lowest level.”
The district headquarters have been deserted and public servants are operating elsewhere.
This has been happening for the past six years.
Yama said the provincial government was looking at bottom-up planning which started with Bogia where a standby generator of 100kv and money were allocated for the hospital.
“In 2018, I went to Josephstar, where I have renovated 20 houses,” he said.
The hospital works and police station are ongoing.
“I have got 100kv standby generator to Aiome in Middle Ramu already.
“I have got 10 houses coming up in Bundi but it has grasses growing up and the district staff are operating from Walim station.
“No policeman, no workers, no service at all.
“The funds we have are tied to specific projects. I can’t give those to other projects. I am tied up with those appropriation.”
Maru gave K9 million to help build the district stations.