BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
CENTRAL Islands Province (CIP) citizens call on their provincial government to solve their ‘Provincial Public Accounts Committee (PPAC) ‘resignation saga’ for the benefit of the province.
The call comes after a report reaching Ngella’s famous social media platform, the Ngella Forum (NgF), that there is still no resolution over the division between their Executive and nonexecutive provincial government members delaying the passing of the Financial Year (FY) 22/23 Budget.
According to the concern of the people of CIP, if there is no PPAC, then the Budget will not be passed. And, if there is no ‘Budget passed’ then the Provincial Government will not fully function.
“So the likely scenario if this is not resolved is the Minister of Provincial Government might use his powers under the Provincial Government Act to effect the dissolution of the current Assembly.
“That means the province will be directly administered by the Ministry of Provincial Government by appointed officials on behalf of the ministry,” said NgF members.
NgF members express that this is a rather sad scenario after 40 years as a province and in the 21st century, this is where they have come to.
“What is shown is the deep division and distrust amongst our elected leaders. After three years together as MPAs [Members of Provincial Assembly], all we see is more and more rift between the two groups.
“Hope we can learn from this situation and do things differently in the future for the good of our province and people.
“The Budget has to be passed by June 15 which is only three weeks away as it looks like we are fast losing time,” said NgF members.
CIP Premier Hon Stanley Manetiva earlier on in mid-April over this issue stated that the province has lost 60 percent of its capital PCDF funding from the government after the resignation of the four (4) Non-executive Members of its PPAC in the 11th hour.
Though the Premier respects the PPAC’s resignation option on the 11th or Zero hours with stated grounds in their Letters addressed to the Speaker, his office is however appalled by the outcome for ‘not’ having the Appropriation Budget Estimates for 2022/2023FY through PPAC.
“It is illogical and contradictory to leadership, honourableness, and integrity as expected by SO [Standing Order] 246 and 247. They opted to resign just days prior to the set date despite ongoing negotiations and moving the Assembly Meeting dates to accommodate the PPAC meeting.
“The right to resign knowing very well the consequences has to be exercised in a manner as expected by a public leader. There is a loss suffered by the province in costs and the people of the Wards have suffered the loss in projects to their villages as stated above.
“All grievances and issues should be addressed or raised using formally recognized committees and official lines of Communications.
“To all non-executive members, SO mandates that 4 of you should be in the PPAC for the upcoming Final Audit Report for the previous FY and the upcoming 60 percent cut in the Capital Budget session in June 2022.
“My Government will be working closely with MPGIS on the way forward to avoid such events being repeated not only for Central Province but for other Provinces may be in the future.
“I wish to assure my people that normal Services will continue and ongoing roll-over projects will continue for completion. The 60 percent cut in PCDF funds will affect the new projects listed for this year 2022/2023FY.
“As a result, the Provincial Budget cannot be tabled on the floor of Assembly hence as provided for by FMO Ordinance, the Province is currently operating under a Contingency Warrant until a new budget is tabled in June 2022.
“I sincerely hope that such events are not repeated in the June Assembly Sitting,” said Manetiva.
The four CIP resigned PPAC members on the other hand in defence of their action responded last week to Premier Manetiva with nine (9) points, alleging because of ‘continuous corrupt unfairness’ in their provincial affairs under the current Executive leadership is why they tendered resignation.
Also, the Chairman of the resigned PPAC members, the MPA for Ward 8 at Northwest Ngella Hon Polycarp Galaigu point back that it is the ‘unprofessional approach’ by the Premier that has cost the province on the PCDF cut.
“This includes the non-passing of the Financial Year (FY) 22/23 Provincial Budget.
The PPAC Chairman in response on behalf of the PPAC members over Hon Premier’s earlier ‘Media Release’ acknowledge the Hon Premier of CIP for informing the province of why the budget did not pass.
“But, elaborates that it will be more interesting to hear the root cause of why the PPAC did not convene the meeting required under the Order for the people of CIP to know the type of government leadership their Province has in this 11th Assembly.
“First of all we the resigned PPAC of CIP [Hon Polycarp Galaigu the MPA for Ward 8 at Northwest Ngella- Chairman, Hon Kenneth Sagupari the MPA for Ward 2 at Central West Ngella- Vice Chairman, Hon James Kaka the MPA for Ward 1 at Sandfly Bonevesta, and Hon Jay Rotaua the MPA for Ward 10 Pavuvu], regret to inform the Province at large to see us as the cause of the none passing of the Provincial budget and the claimed budget by the Premier as the budget of the people,” said Galaigu.
“But we have to look at both sides of the story before we could have a harmonized conclusion, hence as PPAC resigned Members and elected leaders of our province and people, we want to clear our side on the very reasons for our resignation.
“Section 199 – 214 of the Order stipulates what type of committee the ‘Public Accounts’ is and its Powers, functions, and other areas related for fully functioning of the Province that needs to be respected. As the Mandated Committee of the Provincial Assembly and the Provincial budget to be passed, is legally required to go through the scrutiny of this Committee [PPAC].
“PPAC’s step taken resulting of the non-passing of the budget and losing of PCDF 60 percent estimated around $3m is seen by the current ruling government as a hijack to the Province.
“But let me assure the Province and our people that we believe that this step is necessary to put the Province in the right direction and set a precedence for any future government not to follow this path again.”
When asked last week, if there was a response to the nine points raised against his current Executive Government leadership by the resigned PPAC members and what is the next possible outcome over this issue, CIP’s Premier Mr. Manetiva said “for neutrality purposes, send queries to CIP’s Hon Speaker”.
Four of the PPAC members of CIP had tendered their resignation from their PPAC positions to the Office of the Speaker on March 22.
The PPAC was scheduled to meet on March 21 and 23 early this year before the Full Assembly on March 24, 25, and 28 to pass the Budget for the final year of 2022-23 for the service delivery of CIP as intended.
However, upon arrival at Tulaghi provincial capital, four PPAC members tendered their resignations.
