The New Ireland Provincial Government (NIPG) is shocked at the recent stunt by the Kavieng Open Member of Parliament (MP), Ian Ling- Stuckey for by-passing the District Development Authority (DDA) Act and going straight to the prime minister to endorse what he termed as a “13 in 1” Provincial Budget. In a statement refuting a recent media statement from the Office of the Prime Minister (PM), Deputy Governor and Chairman for Economics and Natural resources, Mr. Sammy Missen remarked that it was interesting to note that Mr. Stuckey has now become the media man for the PM, resulting in misconstrued information about New Ireland being released to the public. “The media release incorrectly stated that Provincial Assembly reps were present to witness the handing over of the so called 13 in 1 budget.” Mr. Missen added that there were no Provincial Assembly representatives present and that only the representatives from the Kavieng DDA (KDDA) were there. “The so-called budgets from the districts and 10 LLG’s were never presented to the Provincial Executive Council (PEC) before the 30th of November last year as stipulated in the DDA Act, which means their budgets were never passed on the floor of Assembly during the handing down of the Provincial Budget on the 20th of December 2023.” “We have not collectively discussed the budget estimates presented by the two districts, they just illegally combined their budget with the Provincial budget and presented it to the prime minister recently. A total breach of the Provincial and Local Level Government and DDA Acts,” said the Deputy Governor. He said that in section 105A subsection 3 under Financial Responsibility in the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments, stated that before any budget or any appropriation is proposed for submission to the Provincial Assembly, the PEC shall through the Joint Provincial and Budget Priorities Committee, consult with any appropriate provincial permanent committees. However, this subsection does not confer any right or impose any duty of consultation after initial stages of the preparation of the budget or Appropriation by the PEC. Mr. Missen also questioned the legality of representatives from the KDDA submitting the budget to the PM since their member of parliament has never been legally sworn in as a member of the Provincial Assembly since his return to office in 2022. He also raised concern that several sections of the DDA Act of 2014 have been breached by the Kavieng and Namatanai DDA’s where expenditure report of millions of public monies have been unaccounted for. “In point 8 subsection ( a ) & ( b) of the DDA Act, it states the DDA’s must cooperate with the Provincial Government and not perform any of its functions or exercise any of its powers in a way that is inconsistent or in conflict with the policies and plans of the Provincial Government.” “It also states in part 9 (1) that the Provincial and Local Level Government service monitoring authority shall monitor the performance of the Authorities and the implementation of the Act.” Missen said. Missen further stated that since 2021 a total of K106.8 million in royalties has been paid directly to the DDAs of the two Districts, that’s K53.4 million each, while the Provincial Government has received K26.7 million since 2021. “What’s so difficult about giving the Provincial Government your expenditure reports?” The Deputy Governor is now calling on PM James Marape to put the Budget submission by the KDDA team on hold until proper consultation with the PEC and an audit into the expenditure of the two districts is completed. He said the PM should accept the New Ireland Government’s recommendation.