Funds for IDGs to be remitted: Marape

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

FINANCE Minister James Marape has given his assurance that funds for infrastructure development grants (IDGs) and high impact projects will be remitted before the close of Government accounts in the second week of December.
 
“These are important funds secured as a result of UBSA and LBBSA that pave the way for PNG LNG to be signed and agreed upon by our landowners and our provincial governments,” Mr Marape said.
He was responding to questions by Southern Highlands Governor William Powi this week on the IDG payments for Gobe and Kutubu landowners for 2011 and 2012.
“Let me confirm there is an existing NEC decision that calls for IDG or high impact project funds to be managed and disbursed in consultation with the Expenditure Implementation Committee (EIC).”
He said funds had been placed in various subsidiary trust accounts that were co-signed by the respective provincial administrators, in the instance of IDG, Central Province, Gulf Province, Southern Highlands and Hela.
 
He said the money would be channeled through trusts and consultations with the administrators and provincial governments concerned and landowner leaders.
“With respect to Southern Highlands, money designated for Kutubu and Gobe, let me assure the Governor that as we speak today, funds are still sitting in the Central Bank Trust Account for these two PDLs.”
 
Mr Marape said it was now up to the provincial government to ensure funds meant for projects in those project areas were delivered.
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Let me give comfort to landowners that it was never the intention of Southern Highlands Provincial Government to sabotage this,” he said.
The Tari-Pori MP said high impact project funds were designated for key projects and projects defined by the UBSA and these funds were not supposed to be expended for any unauthorised project.
“These are Government funds, not for landowner cash benefits. They are funds meant for key projects in those project areas. Projects will be screened and project submissions received from wards, districts and provinces in consultation with EIC for approval and the money disbursed to projects,” Mr Marape said.
“Let me confirm that monies are now sitting in trust accounts. For 2011 and 2012 we have to manage our cash flow outlook for this year before close of business - 2012 close of accounts – and we will ensure monies for high impact and IDG for 2012 are remitted to the provincial governments concerned,” Mr Marape said.