Papua New Guinea’s public distrust blamed on discretionary funding

Parliament of Papua New Guinea
photo: EMTV Online/ Tamara Pia Agavi

An academic in Papua New Guinea believes discretionary funds given to MPs are at the root of the country’s ongoing push for a no-confidence vote.

Papua New Guinea opposition The lawsuit was filed on Monday The court injunction is being sought to protest against the abuse of standing orders by Speaker Job Pomat.

Michael Kabuni, a political scientist at the University of Papua New Guinea, said despite attempts to oust Prime Minister James Marape in two recent parliamentary sessions, elections in the Westminster bastion of politics were not to blame.

He said there were claims that the Prime Minister was withholding Ksh20 million discretionary funds per MP that was due to members of the opposition parties.

“Now, if these claims are true, then that would explain why there is such confusion as lawmakers flow from one side to the other,” he said.

“Because they want to be the winners, they don’t want to miss the chance.

“If the government is going to change, they’re going to side with that government because that government is going to control the money now.”

These funds are called DSIP (District Service Improvement Program) and PSIP (Provincial Service Improvement Program) and are given to MPs to use within their constituencies.

But they have long been criticized by watchdog groups such as Transparency International and by Papua New Guinea’s Catholic Church, which fears the funds could be misused.

Cabney said one way to address the problem would be to pass legislation to control how the funds are allocated, but he doubts lawmakers would agree to make such a change.