PACNEWS
5 April, 2021, 8:45 pm
Papua New Guinea s Prime Minister James Marape addresses media after being the first in his country to receive the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Port Moresby, 30 March, 2021. Photo: PNG PM Media
(NBC PNG NEWS) Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has re-issued calls for the 21 Provincial Health Authorities to submit their K200,000 (US$57,000) COVID-19 expenditure reports.
Out of the 22, only two submitted their reports.
PHA’s were allocated this funding for use, at their respective provincial levels – last year in the COVID-19 response.
Marape said once these funds have been accounted for, then new funds can be disbursed.
PNG Politics : Opposition MPs join Government, budget passed
The Government used its numerical strength to pass the 2021 Budget this morning, after a dramatic twist of events on the floor of Parliament.
This included the movement of Bulolo MP Sam Basil and others to the government and members of the Opposition walking out of Parliament in protest after Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey re-tabled the K19.6 Billion deficit Budget.
Opposition Leader Belden Namah interrupted the Treasurer through a point of order, arguing that the 2021 National Budget has been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, therefore cannot be reintroduced.
However, Speaker Job Pomat allowed Treasurer Ling-Stuckey to proceed with re-tabling the Budget, which the house passed on voices.