Leaders urged to take ownership of public funds

Western Province Governor Taboi Awi Yoto says development delays in the province are not just a top-level problem, and is calling on community and administrative leaders at every level to take ownership of public funds.

In a statement released with photos of a double classroom under construction at Pipila Primary School in Middle Fly District, Governor Yoto said while many point fingers at leaders at the top of the political structure, every level of leadership plays an equally important role in delivering services.

“Community leaders also have a responsibility to make effective use of the resources and support that are provided to them,” he said. “If funds and opportunities presented are abused or misappropriated, underutilized, then accountability and responsibility should be shared by everyone involved, not just a few individuals at the top.”

The governor said Pipila Primary project, led by a ward councilor using National Government Tuition Fee Free funds, was an end result of good leadership at the local level. He said the photo, sent to him by a councilor in the remote school, shows TFF funds are reaching schools and can have impact when communities have responsible leaders.

“We can talk and talk and the National Government or the Provincial Government, DDA or the LLGs can allocate millions of funds, however the human leakages along the whole system continue to make us not to see the end result,” he said.

Yoto said the Pipila classroom should remind communities that funding is available now, and they do not need to wait for millions of kina from higher levels to start.

“Development and progress can only be achieved when leaders at all levels like the administrative leaders, community leaders etc, and stakeholders can all work together and take ownership of their respective responsibilities,” he said.