by Bethanie Harriman – EM TV News, Lae
Morobe Governor, Kelly Naru, says ten K10 million from the National Government next year isn’t enough to deliver services in the province.
The National Government has slashed Provincial Services Improvement Program funds from K45 million to K10 million.
“They gave K10 million to the twenty two provinces, the government cut K220 million”, said Governor Naru.
The National Government has said on countless occasions that falling commodity prices has caused the funding cuts in non-vital areas.
But, with the slump in the economy, the Morobe Provincial Administration is still working to deliver services.
On the 13th of November, at the Morobe Provincial government car park, two trucks were given to the Bulolo district’s Waria Road program.
The trucks come from the provincial government funds, or PSIP funds.
This year K5 million from the K45 million has been received from the National Government.
Next year, that K45 million will be reduced to K10 million kina.
Governor Naru argues that Morobe has nine districts and service delivery will be affected.
“My Argument is… the amount you give to Manus and Oro Province; you cannot give to Morobe, because we are a large province.”
This year the provincial government had to cut back costs in non-essential areas to continue its rural medivac program. Projects like this may stop in 2016.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wbSm55YjSZ4%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0