SERVICE PROVIDERS THREAT PNG PARLIARMENT

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill today expressed concerns over government officers using line departments and agencies to engage service providers in events such as elections.

Mr O'Neill expressed his concerns when responding to questions in Parliament by Eastern Highlands Governor, Julie Soso.

Soso said service providers in her province threatened to to shut down the provincial electoral office early this week when Local Level Government elections were supposed to commence.

She said actions of those service providers will affect the 24 LLGs and 264 wards in her province.

Prime Minister O'Neill said his Cabinet had approved the additional release of 15-million-Kina, requested by the PNG Electoral Commission, to sort out service providers and allow elections to go ahead.

But he expressed disappointment that private arrangements are made with service providers, costing the government huge monies for services not accounted for.