The National | Editorial 

THERE was a conversation in the office of Dennis Young, then Speaker of the National Parliament in around 1991, that a fly on the wall has passed on to us.

In attendance were Young and Ialibu Pangia MP Roy Yaki and Wewak MP Bernard Narokobi.

The latter two had a proposal they wanted the Speaker’s blessing on.

The proposal was that Parliament ought to pass legislation to ensure that Memberss electoral development funds, going at the time at K250,000 per member, was entrenched in law.

The National | Editorial 

In three weeks, the country will celebrate its 50th Independence Anniversary. 

However, the hype for such a momentous occasion is not truly felt right throughout the country and not right now. 

Try ask the people of remote Biawaria in Morobe’s Wau-Waria who only recently saw the completion of their long-awaited airstrip after waiting 41 years. 

Post Courier Editorial

We all have to admit our failures and there are many but one that stands out is the manner we have exercised our freedoms at national elections in the last two decades.

In every one of these elections, we did not go to the polls to vote to change our electorates, our provinces and country but rather our own status. We voted candidates whom we believed would change our situation in our lives, to fix our own individual problems so look where we are now.

ACT NOW! PNG has released its second annual District Development Authority Watch Report, covering the period July 2024 to June 2025. 

The findings reveal entrenched failures in transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement across Papua New Guinea’s 96 District Development Authorities (DDAs). This is despite rising government investment of public funds through service improvement and infrastructure grants totaling almost K2 billion a year.

Source: The National | Editorial | June 25, 2025

AFTER years of waiting, Papua New Guinea is finally holding its Local Level Government (LLG) elections.

More than 30,000 candidates have filed their nominations to contest for seats in the country’s 374 LLGs and 6,916 wards.

Electoral Commissioner, Simon Sinai has stated that K180 million allocated for the LLG elections which also covers the four by-elections for Aitape-Lumi, Kabwum, Porgera-Paiela and Usino-Bundi, including the Motu-Koitabu elections.

Source: The National | Frank Senge Kolmal | June 26, 2025

GRAND Chief Dr John Momis, a founding father of Papua New Guinea, says the political leaders of the country have let down the people and the Constitution.

Asked to reflect on PNG ‘s journey from Independence, Momis said: “To be honest with you, I am not very happy.

“I think we have really let our people down.

“When we were making the Constitution, we didn’t think about developing resources, not
even developing the country as such.

Source: The National | Jesher Tilto | June 30,2025

Members of Parliament yet to acquit their 2024 Service Improvement Program funds to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) have been reminded to do so. 

Acting department secretary Aihi Vaki told the 20-plus MPs yet to submit their acquittals that, despite the directive of the Ombudsman Commission (OC) for them to meet the March 31st deadline, his department would still accept them. 

Wantok Nuispaper, Page 10 | Jun 5- 11, 2025

Long 10-pela yia, planti bilien kina we i sapos long go long rurel divelopmen projek long 89 distrik na 22 provins bilong Papua Niugini i go nating na no gat wanpela sekap i kamap long en. 

Ol skul, rot, helt fasiliti na ol arapela infrastraksa we Distrik na Provinsal Sevis Impruvmen Program (DSIP/PSIP) i karamapim, i no kisim wanpela inspeksen o sekap long ol dipatmen we i save lukautim. 

 Post- Courier | Yu Tok | Thursday 5th June 2025

Funding for SME in the districts is important when it is aimed at promoting economic growth and creating jobs.

In many cases however this has been politicalized and funds are usually dished out by MPs to their political cronies and supporters at will. There is no policy guidelines as to how these funds are to be expended and to whom.

John Varey | Post Courier

Nearly 80 per cent of Papua New Guinea’s Members of Parliament have failed to account for billions of Kina allocated through the District Services Improvement Program (DSIP) and Provincial Services Improvement Program (PSIP). This is not a mere oversight — it is a profound betrayal of trust, a disregard for the nation’s future, and a crippling wound on the promise of progress.

Reginald Renagi | Post Courier Yu Tok | 27th May 2025

John Varey| Post Courier | Yu Tok |  22nd May 2025

As Papua New Guinea marks 50 years of independence, it’s time to confront a painful reality: billions of kina allocated through the District and Provincial Services Improvement Programs (DSIP and PSIP) are shrouded in secrecy, mismanagement, and unaccounted spending. The lack of transparency and timely acquittals by Members of Parliament is a betrayal of public trust.

Post Courier | Jeffery Elapa | May 21, 2025

Several Government heavies and Opposition frontbenchers are yet to submit their ‘slush fund’ acquittals.

These include Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey (Kavieng), and outspoken East Sepik Governor Allan Bird who are among 46 MPs who have yet to submit their annual reports on DSIP and PSIP to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development.

The National | May 19, 2025

Auditor-General Gordon Kega is calling on all public offices, district development authorities and provincial administrations to improve governance practices.

“Transparency is not optional, it’s a requirement for effective delivery, and therefore we expect responsible agencies to improve in areas of internal controls in promoting accountability in financial management.

The National | Philip Ukuni  | May 15, 2025

THE District Development Authority Act 2014, or DDA Act for short is a stumbling block to the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government (LLG) Act (revised 1995).

The DDA Act seem to provide a legalised avenue for corruption to thrive.

It also contravenes with Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government Administration Act. 

This legislation is the elephant in the room and yet we are so naive and ignorant of its function and its impact to the detriment of service delivery.