MALAITA Provincial Finance Minister, Randol Sifoni, has called on all leaders in the Malaita Provincial Assembly to work together to improve the provincial revenue collection.
Mr Sifoni made the call when delivering his 2023-24 budget speech on the floor of the assembly on Tuesday.
He said the Provincial Government needs all leaders to assist the Treasury and identify revenue sources in the wards.
Mr Sifoni said the Provincial Government needs to stabilise its financial situation.
He said improved revenue collections without financial discipline leads to poor service delivery.
“This is our current situation. Poor fiscal discipline and low collections have caused delays to (the) release our ward-funded projects which are around $4,013,700.
“This (figure) excludes the ward-funded projects for 2023-24 totaling $2,409,000.
“Many would agree with me that implementation of ward-funded projects, though smaller in contrast to other funding allocations in our wards and constituencies, has played a vital role and made significant changes in our wards. Constituents actually have their hands-on their project implementation according to their approved work plans.
“The payment of ward-funded projects is now a minimum condition (MC9). Therefore, we expect the administration to continue to release funding for our ward projects to avoid PCDF disqualification in the next assessments.
“The Finance Division has created a special account to hold all ward grants. Release of funding to individual wards depends on the M&E to be undertaken by the Planning Division,” Mr Sifoni said.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
