Statement by the Prime Minister
at the
Meeting of Heads of Departments, Provincial Administrators & Statutory Agencies
25 January 2008, Holiday Inn Hotel, Port Moresby
Thank you Chief Secretary for inviting me to speak at this meeting to powerful people whose leadership at all levels is so important to the delivery of essential services throughout the country.
If we are to succeed in effecting change in this country, then we have to from time to time gather together as we are doing today to set our goals for the year ahead and try to achieve as much of them as we can.
At the same time it is good to reflect on what we have achieved in 2007 and better that performance.
Out of interest, how many of you can say to yourselves that you have put your utmost in your work in 2007? And how many of you can also say, there is still room for improvement in 2008?
Public Service as the two words suggest, mean service to the public. Not self service or wantoks only. So let’s make 2008 the Year of Implementation where we really serve our departments and agencies.
You as heads of your departments and agencies are in such positions of power. Politicians make policies, legislation and commit resources to departments.
But you are the team leaders.
You are in charge of the working bees. You can sit back and say it’s all too hard or you can ‘step up to the plate’ and make your department or agency work for you in the interest of PNG.
You also are the bridge between your minister and the department.
You can use your position and authority wisely that will benefit your department or you can do disservice to the people of this country by having an attitude that does not allow communication between all parties at different levels of government.
With the powerful positions that you hold you must also know the law - not for your own self preservation and aggrandizement, but to better serve your department who are then empowered to give the proper service that our people deserve.
The display and quality of your leadership in your department determines the motivation of your officers. If you are slack, they too will be slack.
If you do not care – they too will not care. It starts with you.
Putting your efforts and our efforts (as politicians) together is the combination that we need to serve our people. The National Alliance-led government has been in office now for two terms.
We have ensured that our economy picks up but we need the public service to play its crucial role of service delivery to all corners of the country.
We have shown as a government that we are concerned about the welfare of our public servants.
We have paid our outstanding dues for public service employees to the superfunds; we have committed resources to housing programmes; and among other incentives, reduced taxes on our low income earners.
What I am saying is we have done our part. With the resources that we have managed well over the passed six years we have taken steps to improve your performance.
I call on you now to support us too in achieving better outcomes for the people of PNG.
Over the last couple of years government has been increasing the budget of many departments. The onus is on the heads of departments and agencies now to reflect that input with positive outputs.
I appreciate that we have capacity issues that need the immediate attention of the public service Minister and his Secretary. We seriously have to adopt some private sector practices such as rewarding those who do work with more.
At the moment, we are losing good public servants to the private sector because of our rigid wage structures that do not allow us to recognize the real workers.
On the implementation of specific policies and programs I request your support, cooperation and commitment.
In the same way that I call on you heads of public service and statutory bodies for support, I will also call on ministers to do their part. The foundations were set in the last term of this government. This five-year term should be one of implementation.
Excuses must stop - if there are impediments, remove them because you are in a position to do so. The laws, Constitution and government policies are there for you to guide the conduct of your office and officers.
Understanding them means you can really take charge of your team at all levels of government.
I have never given up with this country and do not like that bad attitude of the growing numbers that want to concede defeat. I am an old man but believe I can still deliver for this country.
In the same way I want you heads of government departments and agencies to exude strength in the face of adversity. Do not cower and say it is too hard. Fight for what you believe is good and true.
At the national level, I call on you to support the Ministerial Committees that have been established by NEC to better carry out their roles and responsibilities.
At the provincial level, I call on the same support and partnership between the bureaucracy and members of parliament for the benefit of our communities.
Once again, I appeal to you all that you must all work hard this year to ensure that 2008 is the year of implementation.
Finally, Chief Secretary, Heads of Departments, Provinces and Statutory Agencies, let me wish you a fruitful discussion and I wish you all a most productive and prosperous 2008.
Thank you.
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