Something keep disturbing my mind when I received a call from our Provincial Works manager (PWM) John Sitapai, (Provincisl works is abranch of Dept of Works (DOW) ) he was pleading to me talk to Works and Finance Secretary to stop taking back the funds meant for Talasea Ring road and Kimbe kandrian Road. He received an instruction for him to remit back all unspent funds in this two projects. What I can not comprehend is, both Talasea Ring Road and Kimbe Kandrian Missing link were appropriated K10m each in 2014 National Budget. K10m meant for Kimbe kandrian was released in mid October and K3m out of appropriated K10m was received on 7 November, and the DOW wants to take it back as the Provincial Works failed to spend, so both these projects were classified as unspent and asked to return to consolidated revenue. How can they justify as the funds were released on 7 November and they expect Prov.Works to spend it within 20 days?? They can blame Prov works if they have released the funds in the first quater. This is totally unfair, unprofessional and unethical and amounts to stealing Provincial developmental funds as once these funds are reversed there is no guarantee of getting back, in the first place it is extremely hard to get the funding for our selected projects and now after allocating and released portion of funds for Talasea ring road just 2 weeks ago and the Govt want to take it back through an financial instruction. Though the DOW HQ promising to fund these two projs in 2015 but there was no appropriation in 2015 National Budget except K5m for Kimbe Kandrian missing link, how will they be able to fund an item as there was no appropriations for the two projects with the actual amount. Immediately after talking to PWM Sitapai, I spoke to our Finance Minister Hon James Marape, he kindly agreed to meet me tomorrow 8am, hope the good Minister and his secretary can help WNB by exempting it from reverse the funds. I am not sure whether the DOW HQ managed to reverse the funds from Prov Works so for but they have asked PWM to reverse the funds back to waigani. So the problem is not just getting the funds but also to find a way spend it within few days after receiving, especially if we receive in November or stand a chance to loose the funds again?? How do we survive, God help us. This funds are extremely important to fix both roads and also transfer Ko bridge to Blu wara and construct it. I pray and hope that common sense prevail and the funds allocated and released for these two projects in this year to Prov.works stays in the Province, so the DOW in Kimbe can carry out the project. I am also asked by NAC to source or fund another K5.45million to NAC to complete the new terminal,.I am getting anxious and running around in Pom to see concerned Ministers and Deptal heads to solicit support. I hope all WNB elites currently holding senior portfolios in Waigani can support me in our quest to develop WNB. God Bless All.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:24:20 +0000
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