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.

Despite substantial funding, many communities still lack basic services. Roads are crumbling, health posts are empty, and schools are falling apart—clear signs that funds are not reaching their intended purpose. Acquittals, where they exist, are often late or fabricated, submitted solely to the Office of Rural Development (ORD) with no community verification.

This broken system must change.

Key reforms are urgently needed:

• CPA-Qualified Treasurers: All provincial and district treasurers must be Certified Practising Accountants. Professional oversight will reduce fraud and improve accuracy.
• Community Verification First: Acquittals must be presented first to the electorate. Local communities must verify whether reported activities actually occurred.
• Parliamentary Accountability: MPs must present their reports in Parliament, with copies published on both the ORD and Parliamentary websites to ensure public access and national scrutiny.
• Digital Transparency: All DSIP and PSIP reports must be uploaded to an open online platform. Public funds must be visible to the public.

For too long, what should be public information has been hidden, manipulated, and misused. This culture of secrecy breeds corruption. If left unchecked, DSIP and PSIP will continue to be seen as scams rather than solutions.

After 50 years, Papua New Guinea needs a paradigm shift. The people have a right to know where their money is going. Accountability is not optional—it’s essential. The time for change is now.