Leader of Government Business, and Finance Minister James Marape, has defendedthe government’s decision to hand District Service Improverment funds directly to members of parliament.
This comes after Opposition MP Sam Besil announced onthe social media platform, facebook, that MP’s were being intimidated to pick upthe cheques atthe state function room this week.
Besil questioned, whythe change, despite having district treasuries and an electronic transfer system already in place.
This wasthe post that triggered outrage by over 200 people.
Opposition MP, Sam Besil, announcing that MP’s had to line up like “plantation labourers” collecting cheques that rightfully belong totheir districts.
He urged MP’s to demand thatthe payments be made directly tothe established district treasuries.
His post sparked over 140 comments all expressing outrage thatthe government had decided to use such a tactic.
Some comments were targeted at Minister for finance James Marape, stating that he had gone too far, and had brought shame tothe people of Tari/Pori.
We gotthe government’s side ofthe story; this is whatthe leader of government business had to say:
Once again,the Opposition has taken to Social Media withoutthe facts. The answer tothese questions are very simple;the cheques were given directly tothe Ministersdue tothe gross abuse by treasury officers atthe district level.
He saidthe government is working to stop this kind of corruption and mismanagement of funds, by makingthe Ministerstotally accountable for these funds.
The cheques were given tothe ministers so thatthey can conduct Joint District Planning and Budget committee meetings to ensurethe money is spent on priority areas like Education, Health and Public Services.
The government believesthe change will stopthe funds going to waste on administrative costs. They will go straight to funding services. Marape’said this is what people are demanding andthe government is givingthemthe services thatthey need withthese funds.
He ended his statement by sayingthere is no story here, just anther outburst fromthe opposition about nothing.
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