WEST New Britain Governor Hon. Sasindran Muthuvel has expressed deep concern regarding significant delays and shortfalls in the disbursement of essential funds critical to the province’s development.
While presenting a K200,000 PSIP grant to the WNB School of Nursing last Friday, Principal Mrs. Molly Marava highlighted the troubling situation.
Mrs Marava confirmed that the Nursing college has not received any operational funds from DHERST since the start of 2024. For all of this year, the WNB School of Nursing has survived using the provincial government’s development budget, receiving an initial K200,000 from the trust development fund in July 2024 and now the second cheque of K200,000 from PSIP allocation – this equates to a total of K400,000 in provincial funding in the last 9 months.
Governor Muthuvel said: “It is deeply concerning that a very crucial school has not received a single toea for nearly 10 months now. Without any provincial government support, this school would have closed long ago on the government’s watch.
“I am also deeply concerned about the province’s finances. Only 30 percent of our functional grants have been released to date. The last funding batch was released five months ago in April.
“The government has not completed cash transfers for warrants issued in May and June. Furthermore, no warrants or cash released for the months of July, August, and September. These funds are vital for maintaining and improving education, transport, agriculture, and law and order sectors within the province.”
Adding to the funding shortfall, only 40 percent or K4 million of the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) funds have been released, with no further disbursement since 10 May 2024.
However, DSIPs for the province’s three districts whose MPs are in government have received 80-90 percent (K8m to K9m) of their funds.
“I question if this is a form of punishment because I moved to the Opposition. Ever since I have moved to the Opposition, West New Britain’s provincial funds have not been forthcoming.
“It is disheartening to see funds meant for constitutional grants being funnelled into a few selected projects.
“Those projects are funded by starving functional grants to all Provinces and recurrent budgets meant for all national and subnational Departments,” Mr Muthuvel said.
Governor Muthuvel appealed to the Marape-Rosso Government to release all appropriated funds meant for West New Britain Province, including PSIP, functional grants, and PIP funding.
“It is imperative for the advancement and well-being of our communities that these funds be disbursed immediately.”
