The Prime Minister’s Office has urged the Opposition Leader Hon Jeremiah Manele to demonstrate political maturity in carrying out his watchdog role.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the Democratic Coalition for Change Government will address the 2014 April Flash-floods Rehabilitation Package in the right context, when the government is in full position to implement its policies.
“While the government is fully conscious of the gravity of the situation, the call by the Opposition Leader to prioritise the package can only be seen as premature as the government has only just settled into office and in the process of finalising and implementing its policy intentions.
“Amongst other pressing matters, the government will launch its policies in its first 50 days in office. Following that, the government will recruit its key agents that will be tasked to drive the policies.”
The statement said a person of Mr Manele’s standing, as the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Development and Aid Coordination will be better placed to understand just that.
It said despite the denial by the Opposition Leader, the former NCRA government did not prioritise the package and consider it worthy to be included in the appropriation budget last August.
“In this context, the DCC government will have to relook at the package through the Cabinet for approval.
“Until that time, the Opposition’s renewed call for the serious consideration of the package is in essence untimely and at best naïve to say,” the statement added.
– PM’s press secretariat
