By Clifford Faiparik
Defence minister Win Daki is concerned over the lack of financial support for agencies under his ministry in the 2022 national budget.
Daki said he could not do much as he only has two months left to be in the office and that the 2022 national budget has been passed.
“I was just appointed last month as the Defence Minister and I will be your minister for two months only before we go for elections. But if I get returned to parliament after the national election by the Tambul-Nebilyer people and if I continue as Defence Minister, I’m sure we will transform these agencies (Defence department, PNG Fire Service, National Disaster Center and National Volunteer Service). These agencies deal with people needing emergency services during their time of need like in natural disasters throughout the country”, he said.
Daki said that he helped transform the PNG Correctional Services as Minister for 12 months. “I was with PNGCS for 12 months. Two months I did nothing and worked for 10 months only and their budget used to be only K100 million. But I increased it to K250 million in the 2020 national budget.”
“Their commissioner Stephen Pokanis told me that they used to submit a budget of K100 million to the National government.
‘But I urged him to increase their submission to K300 million and he was reluctant. So I forced him and he went and did the budget submission for K300 million and brought it back to me and I signed and we brought the budget to the National government which approved k250 million.
‘For the first time PNGCS budget was increased and they were so jubilant.
“They (PNGCS) say they don’t get K250 million. They are always the last government department to have their budget approved. PNGCS always struggled. I saw their vehicles were outdated and were 14 years old and I was sorry for them and tried my best to push their budget in. I told them to include a rural prison in my electorate. Whether I win or lose that does not matter. I am trying to save someone. There was no vehicle to take all prisoners to court. And so, if I come back and regain my ministry, we will see some positive achievements just like what I did with PNGCS.”
Daki said that on Tuesday when getting a briefing from the heads of agencies under his ministry at Murray Barracks. All heads of agencies there expressed similar sentiments with Daki regarding their 2022 budget funding, however Daki said he expected them to perform to the fullest.
