Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has affirmed the National Government’s commitment to strengthening Correctional Services, Police, Courts and other Law-and-Order infrastructure throughout Papua New Guinea, while calling on Provincial Governments, District Authorities and Public Servants to properly implement and report on all Public Funds allocated to them.

Prime Minister Marape made the remarks in Parliament today during Question Time in response to Western Province Governor Hon. Taboi Awi Yoto, who raised concerns regarding the condition and development of Correctional Services facilities and other Law-and-Order Sector infrastructure in Western Province. The Prime Minister acknowledged the genuine challenges faced by Western Province and other geographically large and remote Provinces, where Correctional Services institutions, Police Stations, Court Houses and related Government facilities are often located considerable distances from the National Administrative Centre. He clarified that Policing, Correctional Services and the Court System remain Constitutional responsibilities of the National Government. However, Provincial Governments, District Development Authorities and Local Leaders have an important role in identifying local needs, supporting implementation and bringing urgent issues to the attention of the appropriate National Departments and Agencies. “Correctional Services institutions, Court Houses and Police are National Government functions under our Constitutional arrangements,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Where these Facilities are under stress, the Governors and Local Leaders must continue to raise these issues with the National Government so that the appropriate Ministries, Departments and Agency Heads can respond.”

Prime Minister Marape said the Government was reviewing arrangements under which Funding could more effectively follow Functions that may be transferred or implemented at the Provincial level. He said this could include consideration of Block Grants or other Funding mechanisms to enable Provincial Governments to take greater responsibility for delivering certain services, provided that all Constitutional, Legal and Accountability requirements were properly observed. “The conversation on Decentralised Functions is continuing. Funding must follow the Functions that are transferred to the Provinces,” the Prime Minister said. “We can look at whether this is through a Block Grant or through specific Funding that follows the Function being transferred.” Prime Minister Marape said the National Government continued to provide Funding to the Law-and-Order Sector, including significant Budgetary support for Police operations and Annual Funding for Correctional Services infrastructure and operations. However, he noted that when National Allocations were divided across all Provinces, the amount available to address every infrastructure and operational need remained limited. This made proper planning, prioritisation, implementation and reporting essential.

The Prime Minister stressed that any further transfer of Functions and Funding to Provinces must be accompanied by strong Accountability. “I do not mind transferring Functions and Funding to the Provinces, but Provinces must give something back to the National Government – and that something is Accountability,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Whether the Funding received is K1 million or K10 million, the principle of Reporting must be respected.”

Prime Minister Marape expressed serious concern that, from the 21 Provincial Governments (apart from Autonomous Bougainville Government), only three had reportedly submitted Reports on Funds used during 2025. He said Governors, Provincial Administrators, District Chief Executive Officers, Departmental Heads and other responsible Officers must ensure that acquittals, implementation reports and performance reports are completed and submitted as required. “Governors who stand for good governance must also look at what is happening under their own watch,” he said. “Are Provincial Administrators and responsible Officers reporting on the Funds they receive and use? The amount does not matter—the principle of Accountability and Reporting must be upheld.” Prime Minister Marape said the Government was no longer prepared to tolerate situations where significant Public Funding was transferred to Provinces, Districts, Departments or Agencies without proper implementation reports, financial acquittals or evidence of service delivery. He said Public Servants entrusted with administering Public Funds had a legal and professional responsibility to account for those resources. “The Government is providing Funding, but Implementation and Reporting must follow,” the Prime Minister said. “Public Servants and Agency Heads who receive Public Funds must report on how those funds have been used, what projects have been delivered and what outcomes have been achieved for our people.”

Prime Minister Marape said accountability was particularly important as Papua New Guinea advanced its Decentralisation Agenda and considered giving Provinces greater authority over service-delivery functions. He said Provincial empowerment could only succeed when supported by disciplined financial management, competent administration, transparent procurement, regular reporting and measurable development outcomes. “We are looking at empowering Provinces to have a greater handle on Functions in their respective areas,” Prime Minister Marape said. “However, Provinces must give the National Government something in return, and that is proper reporting on Funds and Functions.” The Prime Minister also urged National Departments and Agencies responsible for Police, Correctional Services and Court infrastructure to respond promptly when Provincial leaders raised legitimate concerns. He said Governors and District leaders should not be unfairly blamed for failures involving Functions that remained Constitutionally assigned to the National Government. “If a Correctional Services facility, Police Station or Court House in a Province is facing serious challenges, the responsible National Department and Agency Heads must attend to those matters,” he said. “Local Leaders must identify the problems and communicate them, but the responsible National Authorities must also perform their duties.”

Prime Minister Marape assured Governor Yoto and the people of Western Province that the Government would continue considering practical mechanisms to improve Law-and-Order facilities and services in the Province. He said the Government’s objective was to establish a clearer, more efficient and accountable delivery system between the National Government, Provincial Governments and District Development Authorities. “Our people deserve functioning Police Stations, Correctional Services facilities, Court Houses and other essential Government infrastructure,” Prime Minister Marape said. “But every Kina allocated must be implemented properly, reported on and translated into real services for our people.”