by Jack Lapauve Jr – EMTV, Port Moresby
Relief distribution for flood affected communities in West New Britain has been halted.
West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel says, “the relief funding was released by Finance Department, not as a relief grant, but as a Provincial Administration Grant.”
Meaning, the Provincial Assembly will commune a supplementary budget to release the K1 million.
A frustrated West New Britain Governor told EM TV, to approve the K1 million. the Provincial Assembly has to go through a Supplementary Budget.
Governor Muthuvel says this consumes time and has now seen all relief efforts come to a stop.
All donations and relief items are being stored at the West New Britain Provincial Disaster Centre awaiting this lengthy process. Meanwhile, people in Bialla are using log bridges to cross and access services in Kimbe.
Provincial Department of Works is assembling Bailey bridges while awaiting permanent bridges.
Governor Muthuvel says, about K13 million is needed to restore infrastructures damaged by floods but only K3.9 million has been given.
Again, Governor Muthuvel is calling on the National Government to act quickly and help the province as it contributes K1billion in exports and K200 million in tax revenue.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=K2jgoWWZQpY%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
