The National | Letters to the Editor  

The Provincial Service Improvement Program (PSIP) and the District Service Improvement Program (DSIP) represents substantial investments in the development of Papua New Guinea's districts and provinces. 

These funds, intended to uplift communities and drive progress are drawn from the public purse, making their transparent and accountable use paramount. However, a critical gap exists in the current system: The lack of public access to PSIP and DSIP acquittals. 

While these reports are submitted to the office of Rural Development and Implementation, they often remain hidden from the very people they are meant to benefit. 

This lack of transparency breeds suspicion and undermines public trust. 

• Accountability: Public access to acquittals would hold elected officials accountable for how they spend taxpayers’ money. Citizens have the right to know their funds are being utilized. Transparency deters misuse and corruption, ensuring that funds are directed towards intended development projects;
• Transparency: Open access fosters a culture of transparency, crucial for a healthy democracy. It allows for public scrutiny, enabling citizens to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of PSIP and DSIP spending;
• Community empowerment: providing districts and provinces with access to their respective acquittals empowers communities to participate in the development process. It enables them to monitor project implementation and ensure that the funds are being used in their best interests;
• Combating suspicion: Given the well-known issue with public funding in PNG, keeping these reports hidden creates an environment of distrust. 

The statement that 80 per cent of the public funds are unaccountable for, demands that all actions possible are taken to prevent further corruption. 

It is imperative that the government takes immediate steps to make PSIP ad DSIP acquittals publicly available. 

This can be achieved through: 

• Publishing acquittals online, on government websites and making them accessible in the districts and provincial offices;
• Implementing clear guidelines for reporting and auditing development projects.

BY embracing transparency and accountability, PNG can ensure that PSIP and DSIP funds are used effectively to improve the lives of its citizens.

The public has the right to know how their money is being spent, and it is the government's responsibility to provide that information. 

In essence, if public funds are used, then the public has the right to see how they are used.