THE Southern Highlands Provincial Government (SHPG) has presented its 2023 and 2024 Provincial Services Improvement Programme (PSIP) funds implementation reports to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD).
The reports, furnished with both financial & physical expenditures on projects and programs implementation in the province in the last two years, were presented by Acting Provincial Administrator David Kelma today.
The reports captured all the achievements, constraints and recommendations which have been properly analysed and prioritized from most urgent to the least under each sector.
Acting Provincial Administrator David Kelma highlighted that as per the 2024 budget, much of the PSIP funds were allocated to Law-and-Order sector as the province is a volatile province due to election related violence.
He further confirmed that SHP does not have tribal conflicts unlike other provinces in the region, particularly the upper highlands.
Since taking office as the acting provincial administrator three months ago, Mr Kelma said his administration’s focus was to address law-and-order issues in the province among other development issues which were ignored for many years by previous administrations.
Mr Kelma was adamant that despite the province faces impediments, they manage to deliver basic government goods and services to the people of southern highlands under the leadership of Governor William Powi.
The 2023 and 2024 PSIP funds were expanded on various sectors in the five districts of the province; Kagua-Erave, Ialibu-Pangia, Imbonggu, Mendi-Munhiu & Nipa-Kutubu.
“From the budgeted amount of K10 million PSIP in 2023 national budget, SHPG only received K6 million,” said Mr Kelma.
He further stated that SHPG only received K7 million from the budgeted K10 million PSIP funding in 2024.
Mr Kelma revealed that more than 70% of the PSIP funds received in 2024 were spent on programs under the law-and-order sector to address law-and-order issues in the province.
The 2024 K7 million PSIP was expended as follows: K2 million was appropriated for the police reservist’s recruitment and training; K3 million to the 5 districts to support work of districts Peace and Good Order Committees; K1 million to Provincial Peace and Good Order Committee and the Restoration Committee; and K1 million was paid towards the Mulitaka landslide on behalf of the people of SHP.
Mr Kelma stressed that the balance of K3 million PSIP funds remitted early this year (2025) will be expended and will form part of the 2025 PSIP implementation reports.
“I commend the Hon. Governor William Powi and his PEC members for giving priority to law and order in 2024 and 2025 budget,” said Mr Kelma.
“Our development aspirations and challenges vary from those of other provinces in the country,” he highlighted.
Mr. Kelma said even though PSIP funds are earmarked to support projects and programs in all sectors, SHPG has allocated more than 60 -70% of what it receives on law and order since 2017 because of the need and urgency imposed by election related law-and-order related issues in the provinces.
He commended DIRD acting Secretary Mr Vaki and his staff for doing their due diligence by way of demanding provinces and districts to submit acquittals.
Mr. Kelma further stated that provincial and district administrations should not submit implementation reports simply because the DIRD and Ombudsman Commission (OC) are asking for Services Improvement Program (SIP) reports.
“Reporting of public funds by Provincial Governments (PGs), District Development Authorities (DDAs) and other government agencies must remain priority”, Mr Kelma highlighted.
Further, the Acting Provincial Administrator reaffirmed SHPA is committed to work closely with DIRD going forward.
“SHP being one of the hot spot provinces in the upper highlands, it’s quite challenging to implement budget, but I commend Hon. William Powi and the 5 local MPs for their resilience and focus to serve the people.
“We may be known as one of the hotspot provinces in the upper highlands, but in terms of service delivery, our leaders are giving their best in terms of road connectivity, district HQ set up and electricity supply we making some progress despite the challenges,” said Mr Kelma.
Mr Kelma said he is prepared with his public servants both at PHQ and the five (5) districts as implementors of national government rural intervention policies and programs in the province to deliver for our people into the future.
The acting Provincial Administrator commended and challenged DIRD to physically go to his province and verify those projects and programs implemented in the province for 2023 and 2024 financial years to cross-check with the reports submitted.
DIRD acting Secretary Aihi Vaki acknowledged the acting provincial administrator Mr David Kelma for submitting the 2023 and 2024 PSIP implementation reports.
Mr. Vaki was adamant that implementation of development funds under the PSIP must be ‘sector broad’ and should not be expended on one sector only although development needs of provinces and districts may vary.
He further confirmed that his department was not given monitoring funds in the last ten years to coordinate, monitor compliance and national SIP impact assessment reporting to the parliament through the portfolio minister.
DIRD will vet, appraise and report back to the SHPA if need be, to ensure compliance in implementation.
“It is the responsibility of the sub-national level administrations (provincial and district administrations) to furnish SIP implementation reports and not the politicians. Many a times, governors and open MPs get all the blame for the non-performance of public servants,” said Mr Vaki.