Caption: Prime
Minister Peter O’Neill.
By MATTHEW VARI
THAT was the response Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had for critic of his government- whom he labeled as lip service critics, when speaking at the opening the redeveloped Kaugere Health Center in Port Moresby.
The PM labeled many of the decisions of the government as effective in creating service delivery that were now being felt after close to 40 years ineffective governance.
He added that the partnership between the private sector and the churches were now paving the way for development in all sectors of development- along with the DSIP and PSIP programs that channeled money down to the districts.
“Many times in the past we have been having lip service where such partnerships were non-existent, and as a result there was a decline in services that our people have suffered because of it for many years,” Mr O’Neill said.
“The funding that we are giving to districts and provinces are now starting to work, with miracles like this happening all across the country.”
“Health centers are being built, renovated, refurbished and built again throughout the country.”
“Schools are being rebuilt, roads are being built- that is because for the first time, government funding are reaching the rural people throughout the country.”
He said that it has taken close to 40 years and 40 budgets that governments have put to parliament with not much of the funds having ever reached communities.
“Only in the last two years we are now able to make sure that those funds reach them, with over K2 billion dispersed in those years,” the PM said.
“People may say that there could be misuse, but you tell me- when it was in Waigani and controlled by Waigani if there were no misuse, or if there were services going down to the people.”
“No I can tell you that the evidence is very very clear- these services were declining because funding was not reaching communities throughout the country.”
He said that his government made the decision early despite the criticism of why money was being sent directly bypassing national departments.
“National departments should only worry about supervision and accountability, maintaining the standards, and developing important policy and not try to take over the implementation of government policy,” Mr O’Neill added.
“This is where we have had a mismatch, which is why many schools have shut down, hospitals have shut down, and people were dying as a result of our neglect and inability to manage our affairs well.”
“Government programs are starting to work as a result of this and by 2017 Papua New Guineans will see for the first time that our government should be working for our country.”
The Prime Minister stated that if they failed to improve the standards of citizen within that time then they did not deserve to be in government.
“That is when people will make the right choice- they must compare us for the achievements we are doing, not because of politics where you have individuals that are always psyched up about criticizing,” he added.
“We are measured by the work we are doing on the ground, as a lot of us do not want to talk too much, we want to keep quiet and work only- those who want to talk have kept talking and talking and talking.”
“Let us put things into perspective by comparing our government to the next five years on what we will achieve over the next five years to what other governments have done in the past.”
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