NORTH Fly MP James Donald deeply acknowledges the sincere honesty and trustworthiness of his people in using government developmental grants in a sustainably way to build a community.
The lone Opposition MP from the Western province was in Drimdemasuk ward which is one of the largest wards in the Kiunga Rural LLG of the North Fly Open electorate situated up the Fly River, which takes approximately an hour dinghy ride from Kiunga town.
It was last year the North Fly District Development Authority (NFDDA) supported the Drimdemasuk community with K200,000 to simultaneously fund four community projects valued at K50,000 respectively.
The visionary leader was at the Drimdemasuk ward last week accompanied by some members of the NFDDA to officiate at the official opening of the four community projects.
Donald opened the K50,000 funded teacher’s house of the Drimdemasuk Primary School, K50,000 worth double classroom of Drimdemasuk Elementary School, K50,000 fully furnished Evangelical Church PNG Church Building and another K50,000 value added for the Drimdemasuk Transit Lodge operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Donald congratulated the people for making strategic, wise decisions in using cost saving methods and materials to build durable structures that will serve more than its required purpose.
“What catches my attention is that I can see and judge there are those who really value every single toea against what they do compared to those that abuse government funding,” Donald confessed.
He said that all the four projects each were within the K50,000 budget and fully completed making him honoured and proud of the historic, honest achievement by his people.
“It may not be high standard permanent buildings but there is something to show of the real value for the money. If it’s somewhere, I think the cost of one would be K100,000 or more and as usual they will come with an excuse of variation cost,” Donald said.
The hardworking leader challenged other villages and communities in the North Fly Open electorate that received similar government assistance or will be receiving similar government assistance from NFDDA to embrace the principle and standard set by the Drimdemasuk community.
“If one community well embraces every opportunity and continue to take stock of every single toea then it would see a clear indication of incremental development over time,” Donald said.
The Good Samaritan said that it would be interesting to know the value of his people’s characteristics as the NFDDA continues to witness more government funded completed projects and measure the value for money used in implementing government funded projects across North Fly apart from some initiated impact projects which are still in progress.
“Every toea must be counted and value added accordingly,” concluded Donald.