The New Ireland Government Subsidy Office has cut down a number of its programs due to funding constraints as a result of Lihir Mining Royalties payments now diverted straight to the two district treasuries.
The subsidy division has now narrowed down its focus to Ward Development Grants and Roof over heads.
Outstanding Community Project Grants (CPG) (former ally known as Ward Development Grants) for the Namatanai LLG worth K600,000 were released during the Grand Opening of the Seeto Namatanai Council chamber on the 20th of May.
While K330,00 was presented to the Matalai Ward members during their Council Chamber Opening on the 23rd of May.Other outstanding ward grants for 2019- 2020, PGK 1.5 million will also be paid out.
The subsidy division has also been paying out ,outstanding old aged and disabled pensions before the policy is phased out.
The New Ireland Government’s subsidy policy programs included; Old Aged and Disabled Pensions, roof Over Head, Solar Lights, Free and Subsidised Education and Community Project Grants, Beautification Grants, wheel Barrow and Bicycle Subsidy, Church Partnership Grants, Institutional Grants and Grants to National Function Agencies in the Province.
The subsidy Office has been travelling around New Ireland to relay the phasing out of the mentioned New Ireland Government subsidy policies.
“This Government has been fair in its distribution of subsidy policies throughout the province. Irrespective of which political party affiliation you are, the New Ireland Government has included you.
But unfortunately we can no longer afford to keep delivering those policies. As it is now ,” The office will continue to function but at its limited capacity,” said Subsidy CEO Mactil Bais.
The Government Subsidy Office has always had the largest slice of the New Ireland Budget for the past 14 years.
A Provincial budget that has held at 75- 80 percent development funding major impact projects and subsidies that touch the people, with the balance for recurrent. We have run our policies successfully for over 10 years and they are not easy to implement.