40 PNG MPs had not been paid their development funds by Marape Government

By  By_Albertis_Photography

Member for Ialibu-Pangia and former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill calls on the Government for fair distribution of district funds (DSIP).

The former prime minister made this call responding to the fact that 40 members of Parliament had not been paid for the past 6 months.

The MPs who have not been paid are from the both sides of the Haus (Opposition & Government).

O'Neill stressed that the DSIP funds of the mentioned number of MPs have been withheld by the government, except small component were released.

"The 40 MPs received only K1 million while Government MPs were paid K5 million each." He added.

O'Neill said, "The DSIP funds are funds that rightfully belong to the people and it is for the people. Politics must not interfere with what is rightfully belong to the people. 

"As per the constitution is concern, the DSIP funds must equally be distributed to all MPs regardless of all our political differences. Government has no right whatsoever to withhold people's money (DSIP). Government cannot deprive the rights of the people." O'Neill added.

O’Neill wants a fair distribution of district services improvement programme (DSIP) funds from the Government to provide basic services such as health and education to the rural population.

O'Neill said , "The services improvement programme was a deliberate intervention by the Government to ensure districts got direct funding for key impact projects such as roads, health, education and agriculture."

"Each year, an MP was expected to receive K10 million in DSIP funds, but that has not been the case for the past six months.

“Properly-budgeted funds such as DSIP should be paid fairly and on timely basis,” O’Neill said.

“No government in the past has ever denied people services because of political differences.

“This is criminal, DSIP provides remote districts and their people basic services, particularly health and education.

“This comes on top of selected Government MPs being paid millions of kina in unbudgeted (form) disguised as agricultural and infrastructure funds." O'Neill added.

He said, “When the economy is in recession and there is gross misuse of public funds, (there is) no tangible benefit to our people."

“It appears that all our government departments and State agencies supposed to be the watchdog of the people have been politicised and are sleeping.

“They have become facilitators for politicians and cannot say no because it is simply wrong and immoral.

“Leaders and public service are here to serve our people.” O'Neill stated.

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