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Last week, a team from the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) visited East Sepik Province (ESP) to inspect District Services Improvement Program (DSIP) and Provincial Services Improvement Program (PSIP) projects.
According to local observer Allan Bird, this is the first time a national agency has officially visited East Sepik Province to review expenditure on these key development projects.
“I would like to thank DIRD for this important initiative,” said Bird. “I hope other national agencies such as the Auditor General’s Office, Department of Planning, Department of Health, and Police will also send officers to audit spending in East Sepik Province.”
Bird stressed that oversight is crucial for successful provincial development. “My push for Block Grants will make provinces more effective units of government; however, these grants will not work without proper national agency oversight.”
He added, “Papua New Guinea needs a hard reset in government so that our people can receive better value for public funds.”
Bird concluded with a request for continued accountability: “Thank you to DIRD, and can we please make this an annual inspection?”
This visit represents a positive step toward improving transparency and governance in East Sepik Province.