Accountability is one of the major problems in most government organisations.
Acting secretary for Defence, Trevor Meauri, said the Defence Department will be focusing on accountability within the organisation as it gears up to implement its key priorities in 2019.
Meauri, when addressing senior Department and Force officials at their recent Budget Retreat, stressed that accountability will be the hallmark for the organisation this year.
He said whether it’s performing a small task or pursuing a big project, accountability is key.
He added that lack of accountability over the years has resulted in failure to deliver some of major projects.
“PNGDF encounter serious budget crunch in the middle of each fiscal year because they are not accountable enough,” he stated.
Meauri said several reforms undertaken at the Department in the last two years will help drive accountability and transparency in finance and administration at Defence.
The reforms include introduction of the IFMS system in the Department’s finances, setting up of a project steering committee for oversight of all projects, and establishing the Project and Contract Management Cell with the help of Australian Defence Force.
Meauri said funding challenges were expected to continue in 2019. But with the focus on accountability, they should achieve their goals in 2019.
“We have to be accountable to Parliament. We have to be accountable to the government. We have to be accountable to the systems and processes within the Defence Organisation.
“We have to be accountable to our soldiers who are out there on border patrol, or on emergency duties. And most importantly, we need to be accountable to the people of Papua New Guinea. We need to regain their trust and confidence in us.”
He said a lot of infrastructure development will be undertaken by Defence in 2019.
This includes renovations to housing, single quarters and messing facilities in barracks around the country.
He urged the senior officers to focus on delivering these projects on time and within the financial resources provided by the government.
The Budget Retreat is an annual event held to review the budget performance for the year that is ending, and plan for the New Year.
(Filepic of PNGDF personnel)