FOREWORD

In 1995 PNG passed its reform-oriented Organic Law on Provincial and Local-level Government. The Organic Law provides for the substantial decentralization of governance responsibilities to sub-national levels of Government in the expectation that a government that is more proximate to the people will correspondingly be more responsive to their needs and aspirations.

The Organic Law also envisages that the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs (DPLGA) plays a key role in supporting sub-national levels of Government in their assumption and fulfilment of this significant responsibility. Among all of the national government agencies, none is better placed to facilitate the effective functioning of sub-national levels of government than the DPLGA.

As the Minister of Inter-Government Relations, I personally hold DPLGA accountable for the fulfilment of this critical mandate. It is therefore with pleasure that I note the new determination of the Management of DPLGA to pursue greater excellence and effectiveness in undertaking this mandate as evidenced through DPLGA’s new Strategic and Corporate Plan.

I sincerely wish the Management of DPLGA and its entire staff every success in addressing and achieving each of the goals and targets specified within this Strategic and Corporate Plan. The Management’s primary goal should be for DPLGA to emerge as a true leader and catalyst of reform and performance excellence, both through example and active guidance to all government agencies at the sub national level.

Peter Barter Kt., OBE MP

Minister for Inter-Government Relations

July 2004