Assembly calls for proper reporting
Divisional and Departmental heads within the Milne Bay Provincial Administration in Milne Bay Province, have been urged to provide timely reports on major activities in the province.
This call was made by Acting Chairman and Deputy Governor, Mathew Magioudi, during the province's assembly meeting on Friday following concerns over the lack of activity reports from some government divisions.
During a session of questions without notice, a supplementary question was raised in the assembly regarding Timber and logging operations in the province, including it's licenses and permits, the benefits they are bringing to the people of Milne Bay.
However, no detailed report was presented as Chairman responsible for forestry did not have any report at hand to answer the series of questions.
This prompted the Acting Chairman and Deputy Governor, Mathew Magioudi, who sternly called on the Provincial Administration to immediately look into addressing the failure by some departmental and divisional heads in providing accurate and detailed reports to respective chairmen in the Provincial Assembly.
"It is very frustrating to see that the divisional heads and certain department managers have not been working together with their chairman's. Non-compliant to PEC and assembly requirements are very bad", The acting Chairman said
"I wish to call upon and put on record in this assembly; the administrator of various departments responsible must take seriously the concerns and the welfare of the people of Milne Bay Province"
The acting Chairman advised the provincial administration that the Assembly is the only forum through which the public gets to hear and learn about what the government is doing for them as other communication mediums are not effective in remote areas.
He stressed that proper and timely reporting is therefore very essential for accountability and transparency, adding that a lack of accurate information from divisional and departmental heads makes it difficult for the provincial assembly to effectively scrutinize government activities, funded programs and the impact it has on communities.
He added that respective advisors in the provincial administration must understand that providing reports is part of their responsibility to the Provincial Government and the general public.