Dei MP meets district public servants
After three years of silence and weak coordination at the district headquarters, Dei District public servants have finally returned to the table, with local MP Desmond Paul Kipa hosting the first-ever meet-and-greet. This is to restore government services and to rebuild confidence in the district administration.
The meeting was held at Muglamp District Headquarters on Wednesday, April 8, just under three months after Mr Kipa took the seat of the district.
Addressing the public servants, Mr Kipa made it clear that his leadership is about service delivery and not personal gain.
“I am here to serve the people of Dei, not myself. My duty is to make sure government services reach every corner of the district.”
Mr Kipa said the meeting was aimed at identifying who is currently managing government affairs in the district and understanding the challenges public servants face in carrying out their duties.
He said understanding the gaps in manpower, resources, and logistics will help the district administration roll out effective government programs.
Dei District Education Advisor Paul Miti said many public servants had not been visible at the district headquarters for the past three years following the passing of late MP Steven Pim, due to a lack of leadership and clear direction.
“For three years, many public servants were absent from the district office because there was no leadership and no clear direction for work," Mr. Miti stressed.
At the same meeting, Assistant District Administrator of Muglamp, James Paraka, raised the urgent need for a secondary school in Dei.
He said the district currently has only one secondary school at Kitip, unlike the other three districts in Western Highlands Province.
Members of the law and order sector also highlighted the need for more police manpower, the reopening of a police station, and stronger law and order awareness programs across the district.
In response, MP Kipa assured public servants that their concerns will be addressed and called on all program managers to submit full reports as soon as possible.
“I have heard your concerns clearly. I now need proper reports and inventories from every sector so we can act quickly and restore services," said Dei MP Desmond Paul Kipa.
MP Kipa also added that the district has only less than 8 months to deliver services in the district and at the moment the focus will be on road upgrade and sealing in the district.
Meanwhile, Dei DDA CEO Raphael Koldop issued a verbal warning to illegal occupants still living in DDA staff houses at Muglamp to vacate immediately or face further action.
The warning followed concerns raised by public servants that some government houses are still occupied by unauthorized people.
Public servants welcomed the meeting, saying that is is the first of its kind by a Dei MP and this has now restored their confidence and motivation to carry out their duties.
