Polye labels Finance Ministers Ideas as cheap financial strategy

Papua New Guinea leader of Opposition Don Polye has labelled the move by the Finance Minister James Marape in allowing Districts to use K2million from DSIP funds for drought relief as a “Cheap Strategy” by the Government.

He says the government should be allocating extra funds to districts for drought relief and not force districts to use their DSIP funds which have already been budgeted for other infrastructure purposes.

"Besides, we have not even received half of the promise K15million DSIP allocations and here the government is calling for K2million to be cut from our budget," he said.

Polye also pointed out that revenue from the PNG LNG Projects coming in this year was at right timing that should be utilized to help our people during this dry period but it is locked up in offshore accounts in Singapore as a result of poor decision by government and in the end our people suffer.

"Important sectors budgeted for in district support & improvement projects such as health, education and infrastructure projects will be affected as a result of diversion of K2million out of DSIP funds for every district to provide for relief supplies to their people affected by the el-nino weather," said Polye.

"It is a clear indication of cash flow problem and mismanagement of the nation’s monies and funds by those in power."

Polye said the government should allocate extra funding and support to those districts severely affected, not requesting them to use their DSIP funds.

He said the government has failed adequately to serve its people in their time of need and should hide its head in shame.

Furthermore, Polye commended the Hela Governor Anderson Aigiru for coming out against the government’s intentions to take additional loan and mortgage the landowners LNG revenue for another 10 years.

In commending the Hela Governor, Polye has also called on Governors for Western Province and Southern Highlands Province as well as Central Province to rally behind and support the demand by the Hela Governor.

"The government intends to mortgage 4.27% equity interest of the LNG landowners and affected provinces for a loan of K2.5billion through the issue of the sovereign bond in absurd after the illegal K3billion UBS loan has robbed the nation and landowners from much anticipated revenue stream," he said.