By GINNAH MINI
Prime Minister James Marape has clarified that the Correctional Services (CS), police and courthouse (judiciary) are the national government function by constitutional requirements, and they are not the functions of provincial government.
Prime Minister Marape made that clarification while responding to Western Province governor, Taboi Yoto’s question.
Mr. Yoto has raised question to the Prime Minister to provide answers of the responsible government to provide necessary support to those institutions in Western Province and other provinces.
He said that if mentioned institutions are provincial government’s responsibility, then the national government should provide block grants to cater them as provincial funds alone are not sufficient.
“These are the national functions, but the issues are in the provinces, we the governors are on the frontline of these issues to fix it in the provinces,” Mr. Yoto said.
Mr. Yoto also stated that police in his province do not have houses and vehicles and the police are putting these issues on him and his members.
“The big money that the national government budgeted to give to police, I don’t know where that money is,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape acknowledged the questions and said that since provincial government is the face of the people in the provinces, when the national government is too far to respond, they are asked to make appropriate response or address issues in those areas concerned. He has also made it clear that it is not the provincial government’s responsibility.
“Police, CIS and court are matters of national government to attend,” he said.
Mr. Marape advised the country that if CIS, court or police is raising stress or issue, citizens are not to blame governors and local leaders.
“The governors and local leaders will pick up those issues and advise to us at the national government level and appropriate ministry and section heads should be attending to these at the earliest,” Prime Minister Marape said.