Connect PNG report to be tabled

Prime Minister James Marape has been asked in Parliament today to provide a full report on the total spending of the Connect PNG program since its inception in 2019.

Hiri Koiri MP, Keith Iduhu, also asked the Government to come clear on whether or not the current cashflow shortage in budget implementation and decline in Minimise Priority Area spending is a direct result of irresponsible and careless spending in the Connect PNG program.

In response, Prime Minister Marape placed on record that the Connect PNG Program spendings are within its annually allocated budget, saying it does not eat into other budget allocations.

He emphasized that the 20 year program has a 5.6 percent resource envelope from every annual budget.

Prime Minister Marape also assured the country that a report into the expenditure of the Connect PNG program will be presented in parliament this sitting.

East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird in a supplementary question, asked the Prime Minister to also highlight in the same report, the total contracts issued so far and how much of that was taken out of tax credit.

He also asked if the report of K980 million that was taken out of other critical sectors in the 2023 budget, can also be tabled.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Marape welcomes an audit into connect PNG program, currently conducted by Deloitte PNG.