“When I nominated on Thursday 19th May 2022, ESPG had K161,840,969.70 in the BSP Bank. This is your money which is intended for many projects already under way and funds for our 28 LLGs. My job as Governor is to ensure that we have enough money to operate and to fund our development aspirations, that our people get value for money and that corruption is minimized or stopped completely. My job is to make sure the system is working as intended. I believe I have done my job well.” Said Allan Bird, Governor of the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea.

"MI LAIK PINISIM WOK MI STATIM," Said Allan Bird, the Governor of East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea

by Allan Bird.
When I became your Governor on August 8th 2017, East Sepik Provincial Government (ESPG) had about K20,000 in the bank account. We were low on internal revenue and our grants had not arrived.

ESPG could not pay it's bills, including it's casual staff, teachers leave fares and ESPG owed money to many businesses over many years. Our province was technically bankrupt.

When I nominated on Thursday 19th May 2022, ESPG had K161,840,969.70 in the BSP Bank. This is your money which is intended for many projects already under way and funds for our 28 LLGs.

Since my election, all outstanding bills from previous Governments have been settled and I leave zero debts for future government.

In addition, our accounts are up to date and we just passed our record budget of K491m + our PHA Budget of K44m. The people of ESP get to benefit from a Government spend of K535m in 2022 compared to K228m in 2017 (incl Health).

My goal is to take us to K800m a year.

K535m is a new benchmark. If we add the EU STREIT planned expenditure of K70m in our province this year then total spending will reach K600m. Never before in our history will this much money be spent in our province in one year.

ESPG has never had more than K5m in the bank, so K162m is a new benchmark. Many of our roads closed for the last 40 years are now opened. Our LLGs that haven't operated for decades are now working.

My job as Governor is to ensure that we have enough money to operate and to fund our development aspirations, that our people get value for money and that corruption is minimized or stopped completely. My job is to make sure the system is working as intended. I believe I have done my job well.

I still have to get the Public Service working effectively but this is proving much harder than I expected. Unfortunately, I can't do miracles.

Unlike the DDAs, all Provincial programs must be run by the Administration. This means that I can't give contracts to anyone and I don't write the cheques. This is all done by the Provincial Administration. We have much work still to do.

Sepik people, I put to you that your future is safe with me. I don't misuse your funds for my benefit or for my family. I work for you and your children and my record speaks for itself.

I am very good at finding money and making sure it is used properly for your benefit. The proof is in the bank. With respect to other provinces, I think we have done exceptionally well.

If a new Governor can do better than what I have done, please elect that person and he can exceed the levels that I have set.

If not, then I ask you to trust me for another 5 years so I can finish what I started.

Maulu tumas.

Allan Bird - Governor of the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea.