BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
ACTING Premier of Western Province says provincial governments are just agents in development and are continuously used as bargaining instruments to lure donors for assistances.
Ramrakha Talasasa said existing laws have left provincial governments with very limited avenues to aspire and be spontaneously ambitious.
“As much as we would like to be partners in developments with the national government from our perspectives and wishes, the agency relationship provincial governments have with the national government, continues to create an environment for distrust and bullying like practices where provincial governments do not have the liberty to be as independent as much as they would want to be but are always subjected to an environment that I would call, remnant of the protectorate era,” he said.
Talasasa said relevant laws needs to be a review to entice a more partnership working relationship between the provincial government and the national government.
“Despite ongoing calls for greater partnership in development there has been very minimal progress and this needs to be addressed so that provinces can proper,” he said.
“I’m of the conviction that our recurrent expenditure holds the potential to propel government policy implementation, however as it is common practice, MPGIS constant reminders on regulations and relevant laws and conditions to guide provincial governments budgeting process is evident to be a constrain,” Talasasa added.
He said provincial governments have experienced a reduction to divisional allocations for years and the patience has been running out.
Talasasa said provincial governments continues to work closely with Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening and line ministries for support services regarding their respective ministries amidst the challenges.
“We have ensured that the administrative component is available to facilitate ministerial programs and it is also an opportunity to get government ministries to improve their focus to the provinces as much as possible,” he said.
