BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
FOUR Provincial Public Accounts Committee (PPAC) members of Central Islands Province (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 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, three PPAC members tendered their resignation followed by another member later on the same day.
The PPAC members are Hon Polycarp Galaigu – the Chairman and Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Ward 8 at Northwest Ngella, Hon Kenneth Sagupari – the Deputy Chairman and MPA for Ward 2 at Central West Ngella, Hon James Roti Kaka – the MPA for Ward 1 at Sanvesta and Hon John Jay Rotaua – the MPA for Pavuvu at Ward 10.
Last Saturday, Hon Kenneth Sagupari explained that in order for the ‘Budget’ to be passed, it needs to be scrutinized by the PPAC as a mandated committee of the Assembly.
However, their committee following on the process since 2019 when the current Premier Stanley Manetiva led government took office said there have not been positive outputs to the recommendations, comments and resolutions being the functions of PPAC under the order to do so.
“Thus PPAC sees this as a breach of trust and confidence on the functions of the PPAC by the ruling government whereby the administration and other divisions only carry out the policies of the government of the day,” said Sagupari.
The MPA for Central West Ngella said the message is clear to the ruling government that under the grounds of their resignation, the Manetiva led government are not considering the issues faced by the people of CIP.
“For instance, under his leadership, the Provincial Capacity Development Fund [PCDF] project for Mbanika water tanks is a failed project by which the offer has been given to a contractor but no work has been done at the project site. Hence, PPAC recommended doing a follow-up and penalising the contractor, taking legal actions and halting the remaining funding. However, to our surprise, that same project is captured under the recurrent funds under the ‘Works Division’ which is not proper under the manual but still endorsed by the Executive of CIP,” said Sagupari.
“Not only that but the grounds of the resignation of the PPAC members is valid because issues raised since PPAC’s appointment are denied and it is no use to operate such a committee when it is a waste of time and provincial funds have no positive outputs in the process taken.
“To make things clear to our respective Wards and people of CIP, we do not take this personally or we are not playing politics by resigning as PPAC members of the province. We stand with you all even though we are fully aware of the consequences this will lead to.
“The Budget should be people-driven through which each Ward chairman presents at the Provincial Planning Development Committee during their meeting, but when you see the interests of people never served in the budget, it is no use of telling the budget of the people and the province.
“To these points, PPAC sees that there is no vision for the people in the Budget. On our stand as PPAC members resigning, we appeal to the Manetiva led government to not blame the resigned PPAC members for failing the province but to look back on their government performances since taking Office.
“To be frank, CIP is dropping in the assessment because of the weak current government policies, we call to the government to take its full strength to save its people.
“We understand that the Office of the Speaker wants to consult the Office of the Premier over this issue of concern, but the Premier has rejected both the Speaker and Provincial Clerk in front of the eyes of the provincial Staff, verbally telling them that they are terminated from Office work.”
In response yesterday, on the other hand, CIP Premier Hon Stanley Manetiva refutes such claims.
Mr Manetiva points out that the PPAC members’ resignation has nothing to do with his Office as they are leaders and they have their rights.
“And my disagreement on the Speaker and Clerk has nothing to do with the PPAC members’ resignation issue as we have already sorted out our differences and are back to normalcy,” said Manetiva.
“The Speaker is elected so the process to follow is there. The Clerk is an appointed Officer. The process is there as well.”
CIP’s Premier explains that the Mbanika project is not a failed project. The contract however has already been given but it is the contractor who is not working according to the signed contract.
“On the Provincial Capacity Development Fund [PCDF] it is for all,” said Manetiva.
“2022/2023 budget, all their projects are there. Funds have limitations. So within 4 years, there should be a summary of fairness in PCDF sharing.
“PPAC is a body that non-executive members are always appointed to oversee. As elected leaders, this 2022/2023 Budget is very important. This budget delivers the required services to our people.
“Ward grants for all WDCs, HODs for annual work plans, PCDF projects for the social and productive sectors.
“My question is who is going to be blamed?”
With that, the CIP Premier humbly calls on their provincial government leaders to prioritize the ‘Budget’ for the sake of their province and people.
In terms of the claim that CIP is also dropping in assessment because of the weak current government policies, Mr Manetiva denies such.
CIP’s ‘Full Assembly’ meeting is informed to be held on Thursday, March 31 this week.